Emmerdale fans have learned a surprising detail about recent scenes in the ever-dramatic John Sugden storyline.

Last week saw John throw himself and husband Aaron Dingle off the side of a cliff after his dark secrets were exposed in an attempt to frame Robert for attempted murder.

Robert managed to scramble down, see them alive and call an ambulance. He tearfully pleaded with Aaron to pull through and confessed that he will always love him.

On his Instagram Stories (collected by fans on Tumblr), director Matt Hilton shared a whole host of behind-the-scenes facts about multiple scenes.

One of the more interesting titbits was that, due to things overrunning, Robert actor Ryan Hawley was asked to improvise the scene.

“We were about half a day behind schedule when we got to this scene and had to create an amended version of the scene in the situ,” he explained.

“I basically asked Ryan to run in, pick Aaron up, do what comes natural and just break our hearts. And did he,” he added.

“WDYM the director told Ryan to do what comes naturally and it’s a distraught Robert screaming into the abyss and repeatedly telling a lifeless Aaron he loves him as he holds his whole world in his arms!!!” wrote one fan on X in response to the detail.

“The director said action but ryan heard change lives and improvised the most heartbreaking scene ever,” said another.

A third wrote: “The fact this was improvised by Ryan . I’m never gonna get over this scene. We truly are blessed to have Ryan as Robert.”