EMMMERDALE newcomer Chris Coghill will send shockwaves through the village when he is revealed to be Robert Sugden’s secret HUSBAND.

Bosses announced in July they had signed up iconic EastEnders villain Chris, to play a mysterious role, and teased that his character would bring major drama.

Emmerdale’s Robert Sugden’s secret ‘old-school gangster’ HUSBAND arrives in the villageCredit: ITV

I can now reveal that he will be playing former inmate Kev, who Robert wed in prison but kept it a secret from his nearest and dearest.

Actor Ryan Hawley returned to the ITV soap in May on ex-husband Aaron Dingle’s wedding day to twisted John Sugden, after six years away from our screens.

And with John (Oliver Farnworth) set to leave the village after being exposed as a serial killer, fans were convinced that they’d finally see Robert reunited with his one true love, Aaron Dingle.

The couple, dubbed “RobRon” by their army of fans, became one of Emmerdale’s hottest ever pairings during the 2010s before Ryan quit in 2019.

But it doesn’t look like they will be getting back together any time soon as Chris, who played Whitney Dean’s evil paedo stepdad Tony King over in Albert Square, arrives in the village next week.

An Emmerdale source said: “The RobRon fans are going to be devastated. They were convinced that once John was out the way they would be reunited, why else bring Robert back?

“But the course of true love never does run smooth, especially in soapland. And, of course, bosses wanted to cause as much drama as possible and keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

“Everyone is going to be shocked to discover that Robert married Kev after meeting behind bars as he never told anyone about the nuptials.

“Kev is a proper old-school gangster and not someone to be messed with. He’s going to bring so much drama.”

Just how we like it.