Emmerdale’s Ryan Hawley breaks silence on Robert Sugden’s shock return

EMMERDALE star Ryan Hawley has broken his silence on Robert Sugden’s shock return.

The actor has returned to the ITV soap after bowing out from the role in 2019.

Viewers watched on as Robert made a surprise appearance at ex-husband Aaron’s wedding to John Sugden – Robert’s half-brother.

After the dramatic comeback aired, Ryan has addressed his future on Emmerdale.

He told press: “Robert’s back after six years! And a lot has happened during this time in the village and for Robert.

“Two very different worlds, the village and Robert’s reality in prison

“And out of the blue, just in the nick of time, Robert turns up at Aaron’s wedding to John.”

Ryan added: “It sets up a fantastic few episodes to finish off the wedding week which shows how the incident of Robert turning up will resolve itself.”

Continuing, the star addressed how soap bosses worked to keep his return under wraps.

The actor explained he’d been given the codename “Marco”, used a secret entrance to enter the building and a driver brought him from home to set.

Ryan elaborated further: “There’s so much effort that’s gone into it. I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t tell my family or friends.

“Just fairly recently, I said, ‘it’s Ryan, I play Robert’ and the security guard said ‘what’s your code name.’ I said, ‘Marco.’ And then he let me in!”

The Sun exclusively revealed how actor Ryan Hawley had returned to the soap for a brief stint.

A source speaking at the time said: “Ryan has a lot of respect for the show and its fans and he really wanted to give them a treat so he agreed to come back for a brief stint.

“It’s going to be a huge surprise for fans especially the Robron fans who have missed Robert desperately since Ryan quit.

“Nothing was seen as being too extreme to keep the secret with fake names on scripts, smuggling him in and out of the studios and keeping everything very tight.”

The star – who played scheming Robert between 2014 and 2019 in the ITV soap – agreed to return as a one-off treat for fans as ex-husband Aaron Dingle prepares to marry Robert’s killer brother John Sugden.

Aaron Dingle's biggest storylines

The character Aaron Dingle (formerly Livesy) made his Emmerdale debut all the way back in 2003. Current actor Danny Miller took on the role in 2008. Here are some of Aaron's biggest soap storylines over the years.

McFarlane family: After Aaron returns to the village in 2008, he is arrested by Ross Kirk (Samuel Anderson) for possession of drugs. His mother Chas‘ (Lucy Pargeter) family later learn he is a drug courier for the McFarlanes. Coming to terms with his homosexuality: Initially, Aaron questioned and struggled to come to terms with his homosexuality. He ultimately confided in friend and guardian Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt). Romantic advance towards Adam Barton: At one point, Aaron begins dating Holly Barton (Sophie Powles) and befriends her brother Adam (Adam Thomas). Aaron tries to kiss Adam after they are involved in a run-off road collision. Embarrassed, he tells Adam that he misunderstood the situation. Aaron sleeps with Holly, however, Adam informs his family that he thinks Aaron is gay. Aaron denies it but Holly ends the relationship. Child sexual abuse: In 2015, it was revealed Aaron had been sexually abused by his father Gordon (Gary Mavers) when he was  from the age of 8 before Gordon kicked him out. Ultimately, Gordon was imprisoned years later – but took his own life while in prison. Relationship with Jackson Walsh: Aaron and Jackson Walsh (Marc Silcock) started dating after a tumultuous start to knowing each other. Their story ultimately ended in heartbreak, as Jackson died by assisted suicide. Suicide attempt: A harrowing storyline from 2010 saw a then-teenage Aaron attempt to take his own life. Relationship with Robert Sugden: Aaron and long-standing character Robert Sugden were romantically linked following the latter’s return in 2014. Nicknamed “Robron“, the pair married in 2018, however, Robert exited the soap in 2019.

Robert arrived just as John and Aaron were about to make their vows to one another.

But will which brother will Aaron choose? And what will the rest of the village think about Robert being back?

ITV pulled the episode from its streaming service ITVX ahead of its usual 7am broadcast in an effort to maintain the surprise for fans.

Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and ITVX.