Ryan Hawley has returned to Emmerdale as Robert Sugden, confirming he is back "for good" after six years away from the ITV soap. The actor made a dramatic entrance in Wednesday night's episode, crashing the wedding of his ex Aaron Dingle and half-brother John Sugden. Robert was previously sent to prison for the murder of Lee Posner.
Speaking to The Mirror, Hawley said his return is permanent and not just for the wedding storyline. He revealed that he had been approached about reprising the role in the past, but it had never felt like the right time. Recently, while living in Brazil with his family, his co-star Danny Miller, who plays Aaron, texted to ask if he would consider returning. After discussions, producers contacted him and he has now moved back to the UK permanently.
Hawley explained that Robert's intention is to stop the marriage, believing John is not right for Aaron. "He causes disasters wherever he goes, but on this occasion, he wants to stop the wedding," he said. The actor added that it was the right time for Robert to "cause chaos and huge drama".
Producers went to great lengths to keep the return secret, using the codename "Marco" on scripts – after a man Aaron briefly dated. Hawley also used a secret entrance into the studios when arriving from his Yorkshire home. He said the secrecy made him feel "very special and important".
Hawley originally left Emmerdale in 2019 after five years in the role. His return was prompted by Miller's message while Hawley was in Brazil. He is now back in the UK and excited to be playing Robert again.
