Emmerdale viewers believe they have identified who stole Robert Sugden's £100,000 poker winnings, and it is not Joe Tate. The cash disappeared during a celebration at The Woolpack after Robert hid the bag in a chair.
This week on the ITV soap, Robert (Ryan Hawley) prepared to reopen The Hide after buying the restaurant from Gabby Thomas (Rosie Bentham) using Nicola King's (Nicola Wheeler) inheritance from her late husband, Jimmy (Nick Miles). However, when Robert and Serena Sugden (Casey Al-Shaqsy) arrived, they found the venue completely empty. Gabby had removed every item and cancelled all permits and licences as revenge for Robert taking advantage of her.
Robert's high-stakes poker match
In a desperate bid to raise cash quickly to refurbish the eatery, Robert planned a poker match against Joe Tate (Ned Porteous). On Friday (October 16), Robert invited Joe, Claudette Anderson (Flo Wilson), and Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) to The Hide for a high-stakes game. Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) was apprehensive about his partner gambling, but Robert remained confident.
Robert said that while in prison with Kev, they passed the time playing poker. The first couple of games saw Claudette win heavily, forcing the men to remove her from the game. Jai then left, out of his depth, leaving only Joe to face Robert. The stakes were high: if Robert lost, Joe would become the new owner of The Hide; if Robert won, he would take Joe's £100,000.
The stolen cash
Robert pulled out an impressive hand and won the game. Now £100,000 richer, he took Serena, Aaron, and Sarah Sugden (Katie Hill) to The Woolpack to celebrate. However, overcome with excitement, Robert hid the bag of money in the corner of one of the pub chairs instead of keeping it close. As the evening went on, Robert was too busy announcing his windfall to notice someone had stolen the cash.
Emmerdale viewers are certain his ex-husband, Kev Barton (Chris Coghill), has the money after he was seen standing at the bar holding his folded jacket. Taking to X, one person wrote: "Kev has deffo got that money in his jacket, as he should, because Robert needs humbling. It’s funny watching Robert call Kev out for cheating, then doing the same thing. Watch there be a scene of Robert calling Kev out for stealing when he’s stolen money off a widow too #emmerdale."
A second added: "Love the fact that Kev stole from Robert; couldn't happen to a better person. Now let's hope he loses everything. #Emmerdale", while a third chimed in: "Payback is a b****!!!! Love me some Kev #emmerdale." "That money’s everything we’ve got. Without that, we’re ruined!", Kev took that money! #robron", stated one fan, as another echoed: "I think Kev stole the money and will pay back Claudette and put the rest into the church fund #Emmerdale."
Emmerdale airs weekdays on ITV and ITVX.
