Emmerdale Spoilers: Robert Sugden’s Prison Past Revealed as He Meets Violent Kev in Shocking Flashback
Emmerdale is finally pulling back the curtain on one of its biggest mysteries — what really happened to Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) during his time behind bars. In a special flashback episode set to air on Wednesday, November 12, viewers will witness the moment Robert first crossed paths with his prison husband, Kev, in a violent and emotional confrontation that changes everything.
The Moment Robert Meets Kev
In a new spoiler clip released by ITV, Robert recalls his harrowing early days in prison while speaking to Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Victoria Barton (Isabel Hodgins). The story flashes back to his transfer to Hotten Prison — a moment that would mark the start of a dark, unexpected chapter in his life.
As the flashback begins, Robert is escorted to his new cell, where he’s met by Kev — played by Chris Coghill — a man whose presence is instantly intimidating. Within seconds, Kev pins Robert against the wall and growls, demanding to know why he’s inside.
When Robert admits he’s serving time for murder, Kev scoffs — until Robert calmly adds that his victim was his sister’s rapist. The air shifts. Kev releases him, offering a look of surprise and reluctant respect. He then reveals that he’s in for armed robbery but insists he’s been set up.
It’s an intense introduction that lays the groundwork for what becomes one of the soap’s most complex and twisted relationships.
Ryan Hawley on Returning and the “Huge Twist” Ahead
Ryan Hawley, who recently returned to Emmerdale after several years away, admitted even he was surprised when he learned about Robert’s secret prison marriage.
“I didn’t know I had a husband in prison when I came back,” Ryan said. “Someone on set was like, ‘Oh yeah, your husband’s coming into it,’ and I was like, ‘What?’”
The actor praised co-star Chris Coghill, describing their scenes together as powerful and layered.
“We had some really nice scenes together — he was brilliant in them. It’s lovely to have that whole episode to tell a story, to flesh out the backstory. There’s one particularly very nice little twist that neither of us knew about until I read the script.”
A Dark and Emotional Flashback Episode
The upcoming episode promises to deliver answers about Robert’s time in prison — and the truth behind his marriage to Kev, which has been hinted at since his dramatic return earlier this year.
Fans can expect raw emotion, violence, and unexpected tenderness as the two men’s relationship unfolds from confrontation to connection. With both Robert and Kev scarred by betrayal and survival, their bond may reveal how love can grow even in the darkest places — and how it can destroy, too.
What’s Next for Robert and Aaron?
As Robert recounts his prison story to Aaron and Victoria, old wounds are reopened. For Aaron, hearing about Kev reignites the pain of his separation from Robert and forces him to face what years apart have done to both of them.
Meanwhile, Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw has teased that the flashback will set off “a chain of emotional consequences” that will ripple through the village for weeks.
With a “very big twist” promised, fans are bracing for heartbreak — and perhaps a shocking revelation that could change Robert’s future in the Dales forever.