empson said in a may 2012 interview with "inside soap" that kim did not consider ray's children when she started flirting with him, but "she's been very honest with him about her feelings. but if you really like somebody, then you have to take the whole package." she went on to say that kim and ray "make a good couple" and that "kim wants a bit of security, and her own family. ray's a man's man, and she really thinks he could be a long-term love for her. that's why she did things differently with him, and didn't rush in. [...] with ray, she's keeping her cards very close to her chest." continuing, she explained that ray is "something different" for kim because he's "a decent guy", adding "i think she and ray really complement each other—he's livened up a bit by her, while she learns a lot from him." finally, she said that ray likes that kim is "her own woman. so together they made a really good team. someone once said that kim and ray are like the posh and becks of walford." venn said that he thought it was "nice" for ray to propose marriage to kim, saying, "i imagine they would have a conventional wedding, then a reception with 70s fancy dress. [...] i'm sure nothing would be straightforward." he also said he would like to see them have a baby together, as it would be "interesting to see how kim tackled being a mother." empson said that if they were to get engaged, kim would need a big ring, and venn teased that ray may have got the ring, since viewers were to see "the other side of ray".