Tensions are about to boil over in Emmerdale as one of its most iconic and complicated characters, Robert Sugden, returns to the spotlight — and he’s not coming quietly. This week’s highly anticipated special episode, airing Tuesday, June 17th on ITV1 and ITVX, throws viewers headfirst into a fiery prison showdown that could change the village forever.
After years behind bars and haunted by betrayal, Robert is finally getting a chance to confront the man who shattered his world — his estranged brother Jon, who is now married to Robert’s ex-husband and true love, Aaron Dingle.
💥 “It’s incredibly tense,” reveals actor Ryan Hawley, who reprises his role as Robert. “The prison setting forces everything to simmer just below the surface, but you can feel it’s about to explode.”
Robert’s mission? Simple: destroy Jon’s carefully crafted image and win back Aaron. The emotional minefield begins when Aaron — overwhelmed by guilt after learning of Robert’s deteriorating state from Victoria Sugden — makes a risky prison visit. Despite being newly married to Jon, Aaron can’t resist seeing Robert one last time.
💬 “Aaron visits Robert, much to his surprise and joy,” says Ryan. “It’s a beautifully written, emotionally packed episode with only a few characters, but huge stakes.”
In a raw, heart-wrenching moment, Robert bares his soul, trying to convince Aaron that their love was real, and perhaps still is. But Aaron, though visibly shaken, insists he’s moved on — choosing Jon, despite the cracks beginning to show.
And just when Robert thinks he’s lost him for good… Jon arrives.
Unaware of the prison visit, Jon storms in furious, confrontational, and unnerved. Robert seizes the opportunity to twist the knife — reminding Jon that their father, Jack Sugden, would be ashamed of him. But that’s not all.
Robert’s trump card? A stolen kiss.
He drops the bombshell that he and Aaron kissed just before the wedding — a moment of passion Jon never saw coming.
This revelation sends Jon into a tailspin. He threatens Robert, his mask slipping for the first time. The calm, charming doctor is gone — replaced by someone darker, more dangerous.
😱 “You have no idea what I’m capable of,” Jon snarls.
For Robert, it’s a terrifying confirmation: Jon isn’t just the wrong man for Aaron — he might be a threat to everyone.
Determined to protect the people he once called family, Robert makes a chilling promise:
🗣️ “I’m back for good.”
In a shocking final scene, Robert appears at Aaron and Jon’s flat, bruised but defiant. His presence alone is a declaration of war.
Will Aaron be forced to choose once and for all between his past and present?
Will Jon’s true nature be exposed before it’s too late?
And what secrets is Robert still keeping up his sleeve?
Fans have waited years for the Robron story to resurface — and it’s clear: this isn’t just about love anymore. It’s about survival.
