There’s a shock Christmas twist coming up in Emmerdale – and Danny Miller hopes the audience will be as shocked by what plays out as he was when he first read the script.
Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) are hoping for a quiet Christmas given everything that they’ve been through this year.
Aaron’s husband – and Robert’s brother – John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) fled from the village in the autumn after it emerged that he was behind a string of deaths in the village.
The medic with the saviour complex, John had a habit of making people ill so he could save them, though in the case of Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter) this didn’t work and he ended up disposing of Nate’s body in the lake.
When this and John’s various other crimes were exposed, John threw himself off a cliff along with Aaron in an attempt to frame Robert.
John eventually escaped to Europe, reluctantly helped by Caleb Miligan (William Ash), and that was the last we saw of him in Emmerdale (though he has been spotted in Coronation Street ahead of the special CorrieDale episode).
No sooner had John disappeared than Robert had another visitor – his secret prison husband, Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill). Kev was just as dangerous as John but in an entirely different way – psychopathic and endearing in equal measure he let Robert think he was terminally ill because he hoped to win Robert back from Aaron.
It’s been hinted that either or both these characters could reappear in time for Christmas with a new promo shot on ITV X featuring both of them as shadowy figures alongside Robert and Aaron.
‘I think we are being careful with how much information we are giving the audience before it’s on screen,’ Danny Miller cautioned. ‘I am hoping people are as shocked by it as we were when we read it. it is exciting.’
He explained that Robert and Aaron believe the threat to them is over.
‘They naively believe they can just crack on with being together, because Kev is no more, John is no more, therefore everybody can live happily ever after. But, of course, it’s soap, and it doesn’t work like that,’ he said.
As they look forward to their future together, they decide the time is right to get Robert’s son Seb back. The boy currently lives with his aunt.
‘Seb lost his mum Rebecca and Ross Barton (Mike Parr) signed him over to Rebecca’s auntie,’ Danny told us.
‘So the only other person that could potentially bring him up is his dad. I think, Aaron being the person that he is, would love to look after and cherish this kid and bring it up as their own. They think maybe this could work.’
Then disturbing things start happening, including Aaron finding the trees outside his house have been set on fire. The couple wonder if Ross is behind it, as he’s very much against Seb coming to live with them, but he has an alibi.
‘They don’t know who is doing these malicious things,’ Danny said. ‘They assume Ross because of the row over Seb, but I certainly don’t think they think it’s John. I think they think possibly it could be Kev, but not John.
On Christmas Day Robert sets out on a mystery errand. As time goes on, Aaron and Victoria (Isabel Hodgins) start to worry that something bad has happened to him, particularly in light of the disturbing things that have been happening.
Can’t wait for the next twist?
Hi, I’m Calli Kitson, Soaps reporter at Metro. I cover Emmerdale, EastEnders, Corrie and more.
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‘Robert knows there is somebody actively trying to kill one of them or both of them. So, I think he’s worried about where he is going on Christmas Day, absolutely,’ Danny reflected.
And as Robert fails to return, Aaron begins to panic. Exactly what happens remains to be seen but Danny couldn’t resist dropping a clue.
‘I think there are a lot of moments where you go, oh my God, come on, please, please! Please wake up,’ he said.
‘That’s all I’ll say!’
