ITV Emmerdale star Zoe Henry has responded to fans’ calls for Cain Dingle to intervene and dismantle Ray Walters and Celia Daniels’ criminal empie.

The Rhona Goskirk actress made her debut as the fan favourite in 2001, but it wasn’t until 2010 that she became a permanent fixture on the show.

Her brief hiatus from Emmerdale after 2002 saw her appear in rival soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders.

Since 2021, Rhona has been romantically involved with Marlon Dingle, and together they’ve been trying to manage their blended family. Recently, Rhona and Marlon have been grappling with how best to support April Windsor.

However, a sinister plot twist revealed April being exploited by Ray Walters and Celia Daniels, who coerced her into drug trafficking and liaisons with older men to settle her debt to them.

The pair’s involvement in modern slavery was eventually exposed, but justice seems elusive as both Celia and Ray are now deceased, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Ray fatally stabbed his mother, Celia, when she attempted to prevent him from starting anew with Laurel Thomas, with whom he had kindled a relationship.

Subsequently, Ray was found dead, but the identity of his killer remains a mystery. This is set to change as Emmerdale gears up to broadcast a week of episodes in a classic “whodunit” format.

Each thrilling instalment will feature flashbacks for each suspect – Laurel, Rhona, and Marlon, before viewers finally discover who murdered Ray and dumped his body in the back of Jai Sharma’s van.

When questioned about Rhona’s encounters with Ray, Zoe responded: “Well it was particularly dark when he mentioned Pierce. Yeah, I mean, that’s her Achilles heal anyway. Ray knew what he was doing, bringing that in. It just derails her any time his name is mentioned. This period in her life is just constant abject fear and panic.

“Having witnessed what Ray did to Dylan on the phone when we were in the room with Celia. They’re just like rabbits in the headlights. There’s not, you know, a noise in the night, the door opening, you know where they’re not straight back there. They think they’re at constant risk and therefore are in absolute fear and panic constantly.”

Regarding whether she has grounds to kill Ray, Zoe confessed: “I think she could be motivated because how long are they prepared to let this go on for? I think it’s that moment of desperation that there is no way out. And so, if I die or I sacrifice myself in the process of freeing my family, particularly my children, then maybe I’ll do it.

“And I think that’s what’s in Rhona’s mind. He is ruthless and relentless, and he will stop at nothing. And Rhona knows that. So she’s all in. She’s got to be otherwise, where will they be left?”.

Zoe tied the knot with fellow Emmerdale star Jeff Hordley, who portrays Cain Dingle, back in 2003. During this storyline, viewers have been hoping that Cain might intervene to assist Marlon and Rhona.

In response to this theory not coming to fruition, Zoe replied: “Professionally disappointed, personally thrilled. I don’t want to work with Jeff and he doesn’t want to work with me, but I also think my husband is a brilliant actor. I’m always keen to work with people that are brilliant and he is so it’s a double edged sword, I suppose.”