Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) cannot live two lives forever in Emmerdale.

The beloved character’s world got significantly more complicated a few weeks ago, when Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) appeared in the village.

We learnt that Robert and Kev met while in prison and then started a relationship. The two characters are married but when Robert got released, he did not believe he’d ever really see Kev again.

As a result of this, Robert reconnected with Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller). The former couple decided to get back together after John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) went on the run but moments after they made this decision, texts from Kev started appearing on Robert’s phone.

In a recent episode of the ITV soap, Robert visited Kev and discovered he’s also being released. The initial reaction on Robert’s face said it all – this was terrible news.

Kev explained that he’s joined an outreach programme and will be moving in with Charles Anderson (Kevin Mathurin). He was gutted to not be living with Robert, but told him that they’ll see each other everyday.

Kev currently believes that Aaron isn’t really a threat to his relationship with Robert. In his eyes, he can live out his final days with his beloved partner, happy than ever.

But in Robert’s eyes, Kev’s arrival increases the chance of an already vulnerable Aaron discovering that they are together, and that his soulmate has lied to him.

‘He’s a big obstacle and something very different and volatile’, star Ryan Hawley said when discussing Kev.

‘Dangerous not in a calculated way like John was. Unhinged and unpredictable, in a reactionary kind of way. He’s something very different. Also he’s redeemable, you kind of feel sorry for him.

‘You don’t want to break his heart – I don’t think Robert wants to break his heart. Robert doesn’t want to betray Kev, Robert has deep feelings for him that aren’t just of gratitude, they’re very complicated.’

In this new video, we see newly released Kev chatting to Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins).

When Robert enters, Kev comments on how well Victoria looks after her brain operation. Just as Kev departs for the bathroom, Robert confirms to his sister that he lied and told Kev that she was having the operation, and that was why he got released early.

Victoria then – once again – reminds Robert that he needs to tell Aaron about Kev sharpish, because the terminally ill criminal is about to move in with the local vicar, who lives only a few steps away from Aaron’s flat.

Unfortunately, Robert’s attempt at keeping Kev on the DL isn’t set to last long, as Aaron catches them kissing outside the pub.

‘It’s going to be explosive’, Ryan added, revealing what happens in the scenes that follow after this moment.

‘Aaron thinks he and Robert are on the path that they both think they were always intended to be on, all the drama’s behind them, there’s no John any more and they can carry on their lives as they both hope and plan to do.

‘Then out of nowhere there’s this guy who turns up and he’s his old cell mate, and the next thing he sees is them kissing round the back of the Woolpack.

‘So not only has he been lied to after everything else that’s happened, Robert’s half brother has also lied to him, so it’s a lot for Aaron to take in I would imagine.’

The drama for Robert continues in the coming weeks, as we will learn how much his world changed in the 6 years he was behind bars during a special standalone episode.

Two other instalments will look at April Windsor’s (Amelia Flanagan) ordeal with Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) and Ray Walters (Joe Absolom), and we will finally learn where Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) has been ever since he left the village.