Get ready for a shocker, Emmerdale fans! Stars Ryan Hawley and Chris Coghill are promising a 'very dramatic' ending to a special episode that will rewrite everything you thought you knew about Robert Sugden's time behind bars. They've revealed a crucial scene involving their characters, Kev and Robert, and the twist? Neither actor saw it coming!
Scheduled to air next week on ITV, this standalone episode promises to be a deep dive into Robert's life during his six-year prison sentence. But here's where it gets controversial... the actors themselves were kept completely in the dark! Ryan Hawley and Chris Coghill, who play Robert Sugden and Kev, respectively, only discovered the episode's major plot points when they received their scripts. Imagine their surprise!
For those new to Emmerdale, Robert's complex relationships, especially his marriage that caused ripples with his soulmate Aaron Dingle, have been a major source of drama. Now, we're finally going to get the full story of how Robert and Kev's relationship blossomed behind bars. According to The Mirror, this special episode will use flashbacks to explore Robert's experiences from 2021 onwards, revealing the traumas he endured and the secrets he kept hidden. And this is the part most people miss... these weren't just casual prison scenes; they were formative experiences that shaped Robert into the person he is today.
The episode is teased to be packed with unexpected twists and revelations. Ryan Hawley even hinted at a familiar theme, drawing parallels to a previous special episode where his character was in a coma. He noted, "It's kind of interesting to not know. It's obviously a scripted, kind of dramatisation of what happened during that time." Chris Coghill added, "It's nice for us to find out. People kept saying, when we first started, what happened in prison?"
But the biggest bombshell? Robert had a husband in prison – a fact Ryan Hawley only learned when someone on set casually mentioned it! "We didn't know. So I didn't know I had a husband in prison and then someone on set was like, 'oh, yeah, your husband is coming into it'," Hawley confessed. "I was like, what? To have this kind of flashback, it's lovely to have that whole episode to kind of get to tell a story. There's one particularly very nice little twist that neither of us knew about until I read the script." And this twist is described as "massively pivotal," potentially setting the stage for future storylines.
Chris Coghill further explained that the episode will provide crucial context for Kev's perspective and expectations within their relationship. "It explains a lot about my psyche towards what I expect from him. There's a thing that leads into that flashback episode which explains a lot about how our relationship [started] in the first place." So, prepare to see their bond in a whole new light.
Hawley emphasized the informative nature of the episode, stating, "It's very informative. It kind of explains a lot about the relationship. There's nice scenes in it." He also revealed a fun detail: his character sports different hairstyles to reflect the various time periods covered in the flashbacks. "The episode goes from 2021 to all the way up until right before Aaron and John's wedding. It's at several different points throughout that time period. There are some different looks. All me. It's all me. There's no hair doubles or wigs. I do all my own hair. So yeah, it's like, there's a couple of different hairstyles, I think."
Adding to the anticipation, both actors teased a dramatic climax to their storyline. Hawley stated, "I think it's leading to a climax..." with Coghill adding, "Something very dramatic. But we can't say." What could this dramatic climax entail? Will it finally give Robert the closure he needs, or will it open up old wounds and create new conflicts?
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.
Now, here's a question for you: Do you think revealing Robert's prison marriage is a brilliant plot twist or a contrived attempt to add more drama? And what are your predictions for this 'very dramatic' ending? Share your thoughts and theories in the comments below! Let's discuss!
