Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) is still reeling from having watched Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) – who he thought was his new lover – kiss another man in Emmerdale.
Aaron’s been through the mill, having learned his husband John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) was a cold-blooded killer with a hero complex who killed his cousin, and things seemed to be righting themselves when he and Robert reconnected.
But just as he started to allow himself to move on, Robert’s secret husband Kev (Chris Coghill) showed up and all hell broke loose.
Kev had shown up in the village on a day release from prison to reveal that he is dying of cancer, and that he’s being released on compassionate grounds.
This posed a problem for Robert, who’d planned to keep his marriage a secret and claim Kev’s money when the time came for him to snuff it, while enjoying a reunion with Aaron.
But with Kev out and free, Kev is quick to stake his claim on his husband, well aware that his ex-Aaron is still sniffing around.
Aaron poses a threat to Kev, hence the public snog Kev gave Robert, but Aaron’s at far more risk than he realises.
Actor Chris Coghill revealed of his character: ‘He’s [Kev’s] an incredibly dangerous person. Kev wouldn’t have any qualms about physically attacking anybody, apart from possibly Robert.’
Kev is also salty about the fact that Aaron breaks the news of his marriage, fanning the flames of his hatred and leaving a vengeful taste in his oh-so-slightly psychotic mouth.
Kev has also been a naughty boy elsewhere with no plans to be on the straight and narrow now that he’s on the outside and he’s dying – DS Carter arrives in the village to question him in connection to an attack on an old friend.
And he has no qualms about doing what he must do to get rid of Aaron, with Aaron left crushed as he learns that Robert’s latest betrayal involves him spilling everything to Kev about his very personal history with Gordon.
That’s it for Aaron, and Chas (Lucy Pargeter) is left picking up the pieces of her broken-hearted son.
In a vulnerable state, Aaron returns to his flat, where he’s confronted by an angry Kev, who has a chilling message for him. He warns him of what will happen to him if he doesn’t back off and leave Robert alone.
They are the actions of an insecure, albeit unhinged, man, and Aaron wastes no time in telling Robert about the threat. Robert questions Kev on his aggressive behaviour and tensions escalate quickly, compounded by Aaron’s arrival.
In an unexpected move, Kev shuts Aaron down and Robert is relieved, but Aaron pulls someone else into the mix – he confides his concerns about nasty Kev to Mack, who makes it his mission to defend his friend.
Kev has no sense of what’s morally right and has nothing left to lose in how far he’d go to keep his husband. Has Aaron met his match?
