Emmerdale's Robert Sugden making shock ITV soap comeback six years after exit

Emmerdale fan favourite Robert Sugden is making a shock return to the Dales, it has been reported.

It comes six years after actor Ryan Hawley quit the soap, much to the devastation of soap fans at the time. However, he is said to be returning to screens next month for a limited time.

Ryan, who starred as Robert Sugden for five years until 2019, is believed to be returning for ex-husband Aaron Dingle's wedding to his killer brother John Sugden.

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Fans have been left fearing for Aaron as his fiance was revealed to be responsible for , including the death of Cain's son Nate Robinson. Nate was killed by John before He was also responsible for deliberately giving Jacob an allergic reaction to try and save him and he also harassed Chas and Liam, pretending it was Ella doing so.

A source told that it was the "biggest secret in soapland", continuing: "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."

They added that soap bosses went to great lengths to keep the secret by using fake names on scripts and smuggling him in and out of the studios.

It comes after after a number of hints were dropped in recent weeks.

Recent months have seen major hints of a comeback for Robert Sugden, with him mentioned, visited in prison by a character and his secret brother John making a debut.

Taking to social media, fans began to speculate the return was imminent and a definite. The theory sharing led to a number of comments suggesting it was only a matter of time before Robert was back in the village.

One fan said: "Robert is supposed to be coming back so guessing it will be him [who saves Aaron]." Another viewer posted: "Yay go on Robert save the day," as a third added: "It has to be Robert Sugden," in response to who would likely help residents stop John.

With fans asking who they think might come back, another post said: "Robert," as a further comment agreed: "Robert IMO." It comes amid speculation Mackenzie Boyd could face danger after cottoning onto John's dark ways.

Robert Suden was jailed after attacking sister Victoria's rapist Lee after initially pleading guilty to GBH. After Lee died from brain haemorrhage sustained from the attack, he went on the run with husband Aaron before handing himself into police. His charge was upgraded to murder and he was handed a life sentence, with a minimum term of 14 years.

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