Emmerdale's Robert Sugden hiding 'big secret' as star explains how he's not in jail

Chaos has erupted in as Robert Sugden, played by Ryan Hawley, made his shock return to the village on Wednesday night (28 May). After six years away from the soap when he was locked away for what was meant to be a 14-year prison sentence, Robert’s comeback during his ex-husband Aaron Dingle’s wedding has left fans thrilled but confused.

Viewers are wondering how is he out of prison, and what secrets the character is hiding. Robert’s dramatic reintroduction to the Dales came just as Aaron (Danny Miller) was preparing to tie the knot with John Sugden, who happens to be Robert’s half-brother and a known murderer.

In true soap fashion, Robert stormed into the ceremony at a crucial moment, stunning the room into silence. He said: "Hello Aaron. Miss me?", prompting tears of disbelief from his ex.

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Viewers remember Robert was jailed in 2019 after killing Lee Posner, who raped his sister, Victoria. Although he was sentenced to 14 years in jail, the actor revealed that Robert has been granted a temporary release after winning an appeal to attend Aaron and John's controversial wedding.

Ryan Hawley, 39, who had been living in Brazil with his wife and two children, has now also confirmed that his Emmerdale comeback is permanent. In an exclusive chat with , he explained that his former co-star Danny Miller persuaded him to consider coming back to the role.

He shared: "The secret is out today! My character is returning permanently and not just for Aaron and John’s wedding. I am back for good, and I am so excited to be playing Robert again."

The actor admitted that producers orchestrated a covert operation to keep his return to the soap under wraps. On scripts, his character was given the code name Marco, and Ryan used a secret entrance to access the studios.

He added: "It has made me feel very special and important, the way people have treated me since I decided to come back." Although many believed he was only returning for a brief stint, Hawley has teased that Robert is hiding big secrets and has a complex storyline ahead.

"There is a backstory, which will come out in time. That’s another reason I’m back — it’s so nice to play someone who is different, yet also familiar," he said.

When it comes to Aaron, Ryan confirmed that the love story isn’t over in Robert's eyes. "Definitely, he harbours feelings for Aaron. Aaron is the love of his life, and vice versa," he said. "But there are a lot of obstacles in the way… Lots of things are going to happen!"

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.

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