As life in Emmerdale begins to get back to whatever normal is in the aftermath of the John (Oliver Farnworth) saga, Robert’s (Ryan Hawley) world is set to get turned upside down once again.
Creepy John’s disgusting deeds finally came to light when Aaron (Danny Miller) woke up from the coma John put him in and told everyone the full, sordid story.
He revealed that not only did John pull him over the cliff, but he also had Mack (Lawrence Robb) holed up in a bunker somewhere and had admitted to killing Nate (Jurell Carter).
Minds were truly blown as the have-a-go-hero became public enemy number one in the space of one conversation. Mack was found and saved while John went on the run.
Robert walked from prison vilified and a free man. He’d had a gut feeling all along that John was a wrong-un though no one would listen, being a wrong-un himself. After his release, he returned to the village to a hail of apologies, not least from grovelling Victoria (Isabel Hodgins), who had all but disowned him.
But just because he was right about one thing doesn’t mean he’s now whiter than white. His past remains dark, and he’s now moving from one thickening plot to another, following a mysterious text he receives.
The sender of said text is set to show up in the village to catch Robert off guard. The strange new visitor is seen asking locals for directions before showing up at Robert’s door, who is gobsmacked to open it and see the familiar face staring back at him.
A quick check that no one has seen, and Robert ushers him inside before prying villager eyes get wind of this man’s arrival. It transpires he is an acquaintance from prison, or more than an acquaintance, it would seem. A dirty secret Robert would rather no one knows about – he’s back to being shady again.
Victoria walks in to find the two men holding hands and is bemused by this development, given what Robert went through to try and win Aaron back and save his life.
Robert works hard to get the man to leave, returning to a raised eyebrow from sister Vic. What’s he hiding?
The man will turn out to be Kev, played by TV stalwart Chris Coghill, known for Slow Horses and EastEnders.
Producer Laura Shaw has already teased that his arrival will have ‘repercussions’ for one villager, which would appear to be Robert. Is he a former prison lover?
Or maybe it was an arrangement Robert was forced into and he’d rather no one knows. Either way, no doubt, determined Vic will find out, and we will too.
