Robert Sugden: Relationship with Aaron, why he’s in prison and whether he will ever return
Will he come back to the village?
Robert Sugden in Emmerdale is one of the soap’s ‘legacy’ characters. Born on-screen to one of the show’s most iconic families, he was at the heart of all sorts of drama during his years on Emmerdale.
Here’s the lowdown on what he’s been doing and where he is now.
Robert Sugden in Emmerdale: The early years
Robert’s dad was Jack Sugden and his mum was Jack’s first wife, Pat. He has an older brother, Jackie Merrick, as well as two half siblings, sister Sandie and brother Tommy.
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.
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.
Andy, Katie and Robert love triangle in Emmerdale
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 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!
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.
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 is Robert in 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 remains behind bars.
A Robert return to Emmerdale has been hotly talked about, with fans constantly picking up on what they believe are hints a comeback is on the way. But is it likely?
Robert has been played by four actors. As a child he was played by Richard Smith and Christopher Smith. In 2001, Karl Davies took on the role, and when Robert returned in 2014, he was played by Ryan Hawley.
Ryan Hawley is the one who created Robron with Danny Miller as Aaron Dingle and he’s the one who everyone wants back. But where is he – and the other Roberts – now?
Where are they now?
Karl Davies has been busy since leaving Emmerdale. He’s starred as Lyle Anderson in Kingdom, and appeared in Game of Thrones, The Syndicate, Chernobyl and The Bay, among others.
Karl also starred as Daniel Cawood in Happy Valley.
Ryan Hawley took a short break from acting to focus on his family after he left Emmerdale. But recently he’s starred in All Creatures Great and Small, Silent Witness and Casualty.
Could Robert return to Emmerdale?
We hope so! Robert’s newly discovered half-brother John is in the village, and having a steamy affair with Robert’s ex-husband Aaron. Plus Ross Barton’s back too! And not to mention his son Seb has been left without either parent after Rebecca’s death.
In fact, there are so many reasons to bring Robert back to Emmerdale. And it feels right to have some Sugdens in the village, given the show revolved around the family in the early days.
We’d love to see Robert come back and so would Danny Miller, who plays Aaron. He says he’s been trying to persuade his mate Ryan to return.
Fingers crossed!
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.
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