2025 has been a mixed bag for Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) in Emmerdale…and 2026 isn’t shaping up to be much better.
After being thrown off a bridge by his psychotic ex-husband John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), Aaron eventually woke from a coma and exposed the madman’s crimes, including holding Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence J Robb) captive. Once Big Bad John had gone on the run, Aaron was free to settle down with the slightly saner Sugden, Robert, the love of his life. However, Robert’s got a scary ex of his own…
Enter Kev Towsend (Christopher Coghill), armed robber, Robert’s prison hubby, and the scariest individual to ever rock a manbun. The unstable ex-con made it his mission to win back Robert at any costs, even if it meant faking a terminal illness.
However, Robert was just not that into him, and schemed with Aaron to get rid of his unhinged ex by any means… even if it meant framing him for robbing a pawnshop just to get him but back inside.
Enraged, Kev tried to go all Kill Bill on Aaron with a sword. When Robert came to his rescue, a rejected Kev fled the village and left the couple in peace. But you can’t keep a good baddie down…
In Emmerdale’s latest trailer, the man-bunned menace is show back in the village, watching Aaron and Robert from afar. He is most likely the mystery tormenter responsible for smashing Aaron’s windscreen and setting fire to the trees outside the couple’s flat.
And towards the end of the trailer for ITV’s epic Corriedale crossover, a desperate Robert can be heard screaming out for Aaron in the darkness.
Has crazed Kev killed Robert’s true love… or has Aaron fallen prey to a different monster entirely?
That’s right. Kev’s not the only villain due back.
Ahead of the crossover, Emmerdale has confirmed the return of the murderous medic John Sugden. He’s as obsessed with Aaron as Kev is with Robert, but crazy in a different way.
Whilst Kev is chaotic and unpredictable, John has a warped view of himself as a knight in shining armour who rides in to save people… even if he has to put them in grave danger to do it. So it’s totally John’s MO to risk Aaron’s life just so he can be his hero. Frankly, one evil ex would be enough.
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Two evil exes is pure overkill, and we’re here for every minute of it.
Actor Oliver Farnworth, who portrays John, shares his thoughts on his character’s final showdown ‘With the introduction of Kev, it’s gone from a love triangle to a love square! You’ve got so much jeopardy involved, everyone wants their own individual selfish thing from that square. It’s a messy situation.’
Will Robert and Aaron make it out alive?
