Emmerdale’s Ryan Hawley Confirms Robert Sugden’s Permanent Return After Major Life Change
On Wednesday, May 28, Emmerdale fans were thrilled to see Ryan Hawley reprise his role as Robert Sugden after a six-year absence. The dramatic episode featured Robert crashing the wedding of his ex, Aaron Dingle, and half-brother John Sugden — a moment fans had been eagerly awaiting since Robert’s character was sent to prison for the murder of Lee Posner.
In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Ryan revealed that Robert’s return isn’t just a one-off — he’s back for good.
“The secret is out today! My character is returning permanently and not just for Aaron and John’s wedding. I am back for good, and I am so excited to be playing Robert again,” he said.
Ryan explained that although he had been asked to return in the past, it never felt like the right time until recently. While living in Brazil with his family, his former co-star Danny Miller reached out to see if he’d be interested. After careful thought, Ryan agreed.
“We’ve always kept in touch, and after a lot of thought, I told him, ‘Yeah, I am up for it.’ I then got a call swiftly from the producers, and it went from there,” he shared.
The actor also confirmed he has relocated back to the UK with his wife, Daisy Prestes de Oliveira, and their two children.
“The timing felt right for us to not only move back to Britain but also for me to come back to Emmerdale. Enough time has passed, and with this big wedding storyline, it is the right time for Robert to cause chaos and huge drama!”
While the exact reason for Robert’s return remains a secret, Ryan hinted that his character’s goal is to stop Aaron and John’s wedding.
“He causes disasters wherever he goes, but on this occasion, he wants to stop the wedding — and while it will cause chaos, it’s also the right thing to do because we know John isn’t right for Aaron,” he explained.
The production team went to great lengths to keep Robert’s return a secret, even using the codename ‘Marco’ for Ryan’s scenes in the scripts — referencing a minor character from Aaron’s past. Ryan himself used a hidden entrance to enter the studios, making him feel “very special and important.”
Meanwhile, tension continues to build in Emmerdale, as fans speculate about John’s violent tendencies, especially after his ex-partner Aidan woke from a coma.