As a passionate film aficionado, I’m thrilled to share that the captivating character of Robert Sugden, brilliantly portrayed by Ryan Hawley, has made a stunning comeback on the set of Emmerdale. This return marks over five years since his long-term imprisonment ended, adding an intriguing twist to the storyline.
In 2014, the position was passed on to Hawley from Karl Davies. During his tenure, Davies portrayed powerful, impactful scenes showing the emotional turmoil of teenage Robert’s sibling rivalry with Andy (Kelvin Fletcher), and the tragic storyline of Robert leaving the village.
In a more straightforward rephrasing: Upon his return, the not-necessarily-wise Robert, who was older, left behind quite a bit of chaos. Meanwhile, Hawley delved deep into Robert’s complex past, including aspects of his character related to his sexuality, as part of an engaging and tumultuous romance story.
After Robert was put in prison, Aaron Dingle (played by Danny Miller) is ready to marry his former spouse’s supposedly unknown brother, John (portrayed by Oliver Farnworth).
Suddenly, Robert resurfaced, catching John in the act of hiding his heinous deeds. It’s clear that countless admirers are overjoyed by the return of Robert after such a long absence.
Read on below as we dive into the best of Robert Sugden, as played by returning star Hawley.
Robert Sugden’s greatest Emmerdale moments
Robert and Aaron’s first kiss
Everything took a turn for Robert when he tricked Aaron into stopping at a pullover on a rural road, claiming his vehicle had malfunctioned. In that single intense kiss, the duo ‘Robron’ came to life.
Robert entered into a romantic relationship with Aaron, yet he attempted to minimize his emotions during the time he married Chrissie White (Louise Marwood), claiming he was heterosexual.
However, unlike the deep affection that developed between Robert and Aaron, Robert’s union with Chrissie was destined not to endure.
Robert the villain
Trying hard to hide his secret relationship with another man, Robert found himself exposed when his ex-girlfriend and sister-in-law, Katie (Sammy Winward), discovered his infidelity. Shocked, she was caught off guard when she unexpectedly witnessed him embracing Aaron.
A skirmish ensued as Robert attempted to take control, and upon pushing Katie forcefully, she tumbled through the decaying floorboards of an abandoned farm, meeting her immediate demise.
Although Robert didn’t plan to harm Katie, he went to great lengths to hide his actions. He managed to deceive Aaron, made threats towards kids, and even shot Paddy Kirk, played by Dominic Brunt.
Robert transformed into a true-blue antagonist, and he seriously considered harming Aaron’s mother Chas (Lucy Pargeter). But what happens to villains in the end? They usually get their just desserts in a well-planned mystery…
Who shot Robert?
1. When Robert became the target of an unknown gunman, it was already known that Andy had uncovered the facts surrounding Katie’s demise; meanwhile, Chrissie learned about Robert’s infidelity, and he had lashed out at Aaron in a cruel tirade.
2. As Robert met his fate at the hands of an unidentified shooter, it was revealed that Andy had unearthed details regarding Katie’s passing; simultaneously, Chrissie discovered Robert’s infidelity and provoked Aaron with a harsh outburst.
3. Just as Robert succumbed to a secret sniper, Andy had already unmasked the truth behind Katie’s death; furthermore, it was exposed that Robert had betrayed Chrissie, leading to his angry confrontation with Aaron.
This gave us quite a few possible suspects, unfortunately Robert fell into a coma, but later on, a special episode featuring flashbacks helped identify the perpetrator.
Originally, Andy hired Ross Barton (played by Michael Parr) to carry out the shooting, but it was Aaron who ended up being accused of the crime. However, things changed when Robert provided a misleading testimony to clear Aaron of the charges.
Despite neither of them being brought to trial, Robert unveiled Andy and Ross’s plan to Debbie (Charley Webb), leading to Andy losing custody of his children and Ross missing out on his future romantic prospects.
Robert finds redemption
Following all the events that transpired, Aaron came to despise Robert, and it seemed as though the Robron relationship had come to an end.
Or,
After everything that occurred, Aaron developed a deep-seated hatred for Robert, leading many to believe their once passionate relationship, known as Robron, was over.
However, the situation shifted dramatically once Robert rescued Aaron from danger, leading Aaron to open up about his past trauma of childhood abuse to his former partner.
During a challenging court case and its aftermath, Robert demonstrated his loyalty by standing beside Aaron, ultimately winning over Chas’s cautious trust, leading to the establishment of a genuine connection between Robert and Aaron.
Robert reconciles with Andy
For many years, long-standing conflicts dissipated when Andy was falsely accused of shooting Lawrence (John Bowe) by Chrissie. In response, Robert aided his adopted sibling in escaping the country.
Following the exchange of a false passport, Robert and Andy grew sentimental, exchanging a heartfelt farewell hug and a tender “I’ll see you later, my brother.
Instead of seeking revenge on Chrissie for Andy’s sake, Robert ended up in a precarious situation when he found himself hanging from a zip line!
Years passed before Chrissie and her son Lachlan (Thomas Atkinson) faced their consequences, and so far, Andy has remained out of sight.
Robert comes out as bisexual
Previously unrevealed about his sexual orientation, Robert shared with Aaron that he identifies as bisexual. This means he finds attraction towards both males and females, but it doesn’t imply he would be unfaithful in a relationship.
Regrettably, Robert’s promise was not upheld later on as he became involved romantically with Rebecca White (Emily Head), leading to her pregnancy.
Or, more casually:
Unfortunately, after making a promise, Robert ended up in a relationship with Rebecca White that resulted in her becoming pregnant.
Regardless, Robert’s coming-out scene stands as one of the most touching moments in the soap’s timeline, skillfully scripted by Maxine Alderton and brilliantly enacted by Hawley and Miller, with Aaron showing love in response.
Robert’s proposal to Aaron ends in a car crash
Instead of being simple, proposing to Aaron was anything but for Robert. Unaware Aaron abducted outspoken Lachlan, and right as frustrated Robert shared his plans with Aaron, they became embroiled in a multi-car collision.
In the end, Robert and Aaron found themselves in the lake. When Aaron discovered that he was stuck inside the vehicle, he begged Robert to escape on his own and save himself. However, Robert chose not to leave Aaron behind, instead freeing him, performing CPR, and then diving back into the water to retrieve the engagement ring.
Robert and Aaron wound up in the lake. Upon realizing that he was trapped within the car, Aaron implored Robert to flee, abandoning him so he could save himself. Yet, Robert decided not to desert Aaron, instead rescuing him, administering CPR, and then diving back into the water to recover the engagement ring.
In the hospital, Aaron agreed to the proposal initially, but a large amount of morphine made him forget. The next day, the engagement had to be reaffirmed due to his memory loss.
Robert’s Christmas nightmare
As a movie enthusiast, I initially struggled to move on from Robert’s deception, but a heated confrontation resulted in an irreversible separation that lasted for quite some time. While Robert seemed to revert back to his manipulative ways of the past, I found solace and companionship with Doctor Alex Mason, played by the talented Steven Flynn.
Robert took on the role of father to little Sebastian, yet he still yearned for Aaron, often indulging in heavy drinking and spoiling another man’s romantic outing.
In a tragic accident, Lawrence unintentionally ran over Robert. While he lay unconscious, he had dreams about multiple attempts to reconnect with Aaron. Towards the end of these dreams, the late Val Pollard (portrayed by Charlie Hardwick) made a memorable appearance to advise Robert that it was past time for him to change his ways.
Robert and Aaron get back together
Just as Robert vowed to accept Aaron moving on, Aaron realised he simply couldn’t.
Soon enough, their former partners had an emotional, open conversation, filled with tears. While Robert hesitated due to the fear of making mistakes once more, Aaron gave a heartfelt speech highlighting the positive impact Robert had on him – along with good-natured teasing about his dancing abilities.
Surprised, Robert countered: “I should mention I’m quite an accomplished dancer,” ultimately conceding to the reunion. With a tender hug, Aaron and Robert celebrated their renewal, ushering in a new, strong chapter together.
Robert and Aaron get married – twice
Before the incident known as Rebecca-gate, a wedding took place that was overshadowed by Aaron’s impending incarceration. Due to legal restrictions, Robert organized a secret blessing instead of a traditional wedding. However, typical Dingle turmoil resulted in the couple exchanging vows in secrecy within the confines of a garage.
Looking back, nearly two years have passed since the whirlwind of events, and now, Robert and I, Aaron, found ourselves standing as legally wedded partners in an enchanting outdoor ceremony. As we shared our first kiss as husbands, I couldn’t help but express my feelings to our gathered loved ones, saying that without Aaron by my side, I would feel utterly adrift.
Robert hands himself in to the police to save Aaron
For Robron, the future seemed promising as they prepared to establish a family and share custody of little Sebastian with Rebecca, but their surrogacy venture unexpectedly ended in 2019.
After Robert confronted and assaulted Lee Posner, the man who had raped his dear sister Victoria (Isabella Hodgins), it became inevitable that Robert’s own destiny would be determined when Lee ultimately passed away in the hospital.
After fleeing with Aaron, Robert came to understand that he couldn’t forcibly remove his husband from his family, choosing instead to surrender himself to the authorities.
14 years behind bars was Robert’s fate, and it left him shattered when he found out he was moving to a penitentiary on the Isle of Wight. This knowledge prompted him to spend one final, poignant moment with Aaron, during which he professed his eternal love.
After ending all communication with Aaron and filing for divorce, it was believed this action was taken for Aaron’s benefit; however, it would undoubtedly sadden Robert to learn that things didn’t turn out as planned in Aaron’s life.
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2025-05-29 15:39