Emmerdale newcomer Joe Absolom, who plays shifty drug dealer Ray Walters in the ITV soap, has taken a sly dig at the channel's other long-running drama, Coronation Street, claiming the cast are not "friendly." Joe is a soap veteran, having previously starred in BBC's EastEnders as Matthew Rose back in the late 90s, so he has met several of the cast from rival productions over the years, and he has had a lot of thoughts about them.

"Everyone's really nice. They really look after you," he said, describing how he is settling in to the Dales. "I remember when we did EastEnders I remember meeting all the other casts from the soaps and Emmerdale, always, by far the nicest bunch of people," he recalled. "Hollyoaks were like footballers, Coronation Street were quite, I don't know, they were never particularly friendly, but Emmerdale, I remember everyone in EastEnders at the time saying Emmerdale were the nicest bunch," he said.

"And now I'm here and I've met them. I believe that's true," he told The Sun in an interview.

His remarks are sure to do nothing to assuage the friendly rivalry between the two soaps, which frequently battle each other for ratings and awards.

Joe first arrived in Emmerdale as Ray on July 1 with the intention of purchasing Lewis Barton's (Bradley Riches) stash of drugs.

Although the deal went awry, the dastardly dealer keeps popping up in the village, mainly to encourage vulnerable teenager Dylan Penders (Fred Kettle) to do more jobs for him.

Although he has only been on screen for less than two months, Joe has hinted that his time in the show could be coming to an end soon.

During an appearance on Good Morning Britain on April 11 he was asked if soaps had a future, given how people's viewing habits have changed.

"Well, I hope they do until November, but I think it's a very good point," he said, suggesting his character won't make it to Christmas.

"The way we watch television is different. When I did EastEnders there wasn't anything else to do. I've got kids now and they won't sit down at 7pm and watch telly in the same way I did and my friends did," he said.

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV and ITVX.