ITV Share By Kerry Barrett 29th May 2025 By Kerry Barrett 29th May 2025 Robert Sugden: Why is he back? Where has he been? And the truth about how long he's staying Could Robert be killer John's next victim? Aaron Dingle Robert Sugden Share By Kerry Barrett 29th May 2025 By Kerry Barrett 29th May 2025 Robert Sugden has returned to Emmerdale! He’s one of the show’s most iconic characters and fans have been desperate or him to return almost since the day he left! Plus, as part of the Sugden family, Robert is also one of Emmerdale’s ‘legacy’ characters. Just like his love-rival, John Sugden. Born on-screen to the show’s most iconic families, he was at the heart of all sorts of drama during his years on Emmerdale. So where has Robert been in his time away? And more importantly, why is he back?! article continues below Read all the latest spoilers Robert turned up at Aaron’s wedding! (Credit: ITV) Robert Sugden in Emmerdale: The early years Robert’s dad was Jack Sugden and his mum was Jack’s first wife, Pat. She was married to a man called Tom Merrick, before she married Jack and had two children with him – Robert’s half siblings, sister Sandie and brother Tommy. Robert also had an older brother, Jackie Merrick, who died in 1989. Robert’s mum was killed in a car accident when he was only four months old. When Jack remarried – to Sarah – she brought him up as her own, along with new baby Victoria and eventually adopted brother, Andy. And now of course we know Jack also had a son, John, with a woman called Barbara. They had a brief fling early in 1988 and baby John – who the Sugden family didn’t know about – was the result! Sarah Sugden’s death Sarah Sugden died in a barn fire set by Andy who thought he was helping the family finances – he thought they could claim on the insurance. When Robert found out Andy was responsible for his mum’s death, it started a feud between the brothers. Robert cheated on Katie with Sadie King (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Andy, Katie and Robert love triangle Andy and his childhood sweetheart Katie Addyman were happy – or so Andy thought – but she started an affair with Robert! When Andy found out he was devastated. Katie and Robert got engaged but he cheated with Sadie King and that was the end of their engagement! With Robert’s feud with Andy at boiling point, the pair embarked on a lethal game of chicken. Except Max King had asked Andy for a lift and was in his Land Rover as he took on Robert. Andy crashed into a wall and though he escaped, Max was killed when the car blew up. Wanting to avoid prison, Robert legged it and only returned to watch his dad Jack’s funeral from a distance. Robert Sugden returns to Emmerdale Nine years after Max’s death, Robert returned to Emmerdale engaged to Chrissie White. By this time, Andy and Katie had rekindled their romance and were planning a wedding but Robert immediately began meddling. He had offensive messages engraved on the pair’s wedding rings, leaving the newlyweds fuming! Katie caught Robert and Aaron together (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Killing Katie! Desperate for revenge, Katie was convinced that Robert was cheating on Chrissie. She threw herself into finding out who he was having an affair with and was shocked to discover it was Aaron Dingle. Robert and Katie had a furious argument ending with him shoving her and sending her plummeting through some rotten floorboards. Aaron and Robert covered it up and let Andy find his new wife, and assume it was a tragic accident. When Paddy found out the truth, Robert tried to kill him in a grain silo. Who shot Robert in Emmerdale? Andy was devastated and furious and wanted to get rid of Robert for good. He made a Strangers on a Train style deal with Ross Barton, each agreeing to kill the other’s brother. When Robert was shot, there were a whole list of suspects, but Ross wasn’t among them! When Robert found out Andy had been involved there was another game of chicken (do they never learn?!). Andy crashed his car, but this time Robert pulled him from the wreckage and they called a truce. Robert and Aaron eventually tied the knot (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Robron Robert and Aaron’s romance was one of fans’ favourite Emmerdale storylines of all time. During the drama of the Hotton by-pass crash, the pair got engaged and planned a huge wedding! But of course nothing is that easy in Emmerdale! Aaron went back to prison for a bit, he had a brief drug addiction, and then Robert slept with his sister-in-law Rebecca White – mum to Seb who’s being mentioned on screen a lot at the moment. But finally Robron made it down the aisle! However, their happiness – and fans’ pleasure at their union – wasn’t too last… Emmerdale: Why did Robert go to prison? During a night out in Hotton, which was filled with drama, Victoria met a man called Lee Posner. He didn’t take no for an answer and raped her in her own house after the night out. Victoria was devastated and locked herself away for a while before she eventually told her shocked family the truth about the rape – and the fact that she was pregnant. Lee got away with his crime, until Robert took his own revenge. He whacked Lee with a shovel and he died. Robert was sent to jail. He set Aaron free and has subsequently refused to see Victoria. We now also know he has signed his rights away to son Seb following Rebecca’s death. Later we discovered that it was possibly Lee’s brother, Luke, who’d been responsible for killing him. But Robert remained behind bars. Until now! After six years away from the village, Robert is back! There are a lot of questions for Robert to answer (Credit: ITV) Robert’s return Of course, in true soap style, Robert chose the most dramatic moment to make an entrance – Aaron’s wedding day! “A lot has happened during this time in the village and for Robert,” says Ryan Hawley, who plays Robert. “Two very different worlds, the village and Robert’s reality in prison.” Robert’s return also brings some big questions! “What’s Robert doing there, has he got ulterior motives, does he know something about John? How has he even found out that this wedding was taking place?” muses Ryan. “There’s a lot to unpick and so much to be revealed.” So what will happen next? How will Aaron choose between his former husband Robert – the love of his life – and newcomer John? “It’s a massive dilemma for Aaron, who’s found John as a new love in his life and then he’s got Robert, who used to be the love of his life, turn up!” teases Ryan. “He’s got a massive decision to make. I guess all the weight is on Aaron’s shoulders.” Danger? Mind you, what no one knows is that John’s a killer! So the decision could be out of Aaron’s hands if John decides to make Robert his next victim! Is Robert in danger?! Where has Ryan Hawley been? Since he left Emmerdale, Ryan has been busy. He married Daisy Prestes de Oliveira in 2013, and the couple spent time living in Brazil before they returned to Britain. They have two sons together, born in 2021 and 2023. In 2021, Ryan appeared in Silent Witness, quickly followed by a role as Sid Crabtree in All Creatures Great and Small. He also played Jamie Cleveland in Casualty. Jamie was a predatory paedophile who’d abused nurse Cam Mickelthwaite and his childhood friend Bobby Morton several years earlier. Jamie eventually died in a car accident, leaving Cam struggling with the knowledge that his abuser had never faced justice. Ryan says he’s delighted to be back in Emmerdale. “Rejoining the cast of Emmerdale feels fantastic,” he says. “I’ve been having so much fun being back here. Oddly, more fun than I thought it was going to be, in a good way. “We’ve been filming some great stuff, there’s a lot more to Robert’s return than just the value of opening the door. I’ve been having so much fun, everyone’s been lovely, and there are a lot of familiar faces and loads of really positive energy about the place.” We can’t wait to see what happens next! Read more: Who’s leaving, joining and returning to Emmerdale? Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am. Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm. Visit our Facebook page @emmerdaleinsider for all the latest Emmerdale news, gossip and spoilers and let us know what you think! Or find us on Twitter @emmerdaleinside Share this:Click to share on X (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) Good to Know Share By Kerry Barrett 29th May 2025 By Kerry Barrett 29th May 2025
