In a dramatic turn of events that has shaken the Emmerdale village to its core, two of its most iconic residents have made a sudden departure. Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) have left in a storyline released early on ITVX, ahead of its ITV1 broadcast.
A Hostage Crisis Unfolds
The chain of events leading to their exit began when Aaron, Robert, and village GP Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) were held hostage in their flat. The perpetrator was Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill), who had just discovered that Robert had lied about his relationship with Aaron. Seeking revenge, Kev confronted them, brandishing a sword he had stolen from a local pawn shop.
While Robert and Liam were visibly terrified, Aaron displayed remarkable bravery. He stood up to Kev, calling his bluff and correctly identifying him as "all mouth." Kev's reaction confirmed that Aaron had hit a nerve, exposing his lack of a real plan beyond intimidation.
A Narrow Escape and a Heartbreaking Goodbye
The tension reached a peak when DS Carter and her police team arrived at Mill Cottage. They were actually in the village seeking information from Caleb Miligan about a depot potentially moving drugs. However, when they rang the flat's doorbell, a panicked Kev became convinced his hostages had called the police on him.
After the police departed without incident, Liam saw an opportunity. He pointed out to Kev that if he left immediately with his stolen goods, he could escape and avoid a return to prison. Realising that Robert would never be with him, Kev made the decision to flee. Before his exit, he shared a final, heartbreaking moment with his biological son, Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches). Fearing he would only ruin the young man's life, Kev told Lewis he was a "bad man" and walked away.
The Aftermath and a Temporary Farewell
In the aftermath of the traumatic event, aired in the early ITVX release for November 28, 2025, Aaron and Victoria Sugden grew deeply concerned for Robert. The ordeal had triggered painful memories of his time in prison, where his life was constantly in jeopardy, and he was struggling to sleep.
Although Aaron was confident the police would eventually capture Kev, he could sense that Robert would not cope well with waiting in the village for that to happen. In a decisive move to protect his husband, Aaron announced that they would be leaving the village temporarily. They plan to lie low until Kev is safely behind bars and the threat is neutralised.
This exit raises further questions about safety in the village, given that Aaron's ex-partner, the dangerous criminal John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), remains at large after committing murder, kidnapping, and drugging offences. If the police cannot find one fugitive, what are their chances of catching another?
