Emmerdale’s Ryan Hawley ‘honoured’ as huge Sugden v Tate year ahead is revealed | Soaps

Emmerdale star Ryan Hawley couldn’t be more excited to be back at the helm of the legendary Sugden clan, the show’s original family, as it is thrust into a brand new chapter.

It’s been quite a year for the star, who reprised his role as fan-favourite character Robert Sugden on the ITV soap last May.

In a relatively short space of time, Robert has been at the centre of numerous storylines – and pretty big ones at that – including proving instrumental in the downfall of murderous brother John (Oliver Farnworth), winning back one true love Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) and featuring in the long-awaited crossover with Coronation Street.

Now, he’s become the village pariah after moving into Butler’s Farm when Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) succeeded in his mission to evict the Dingles from the land.

But despite the cold reception from the locals, Robert still had the support of Aaron, who resolved to be by his side as they take the reins of Butlers, renaming the land to Emmerdale Farm to honour the Sugden legacy.

It’s a huge changing-of-the-guard moment for the ITV soap as the Sugdens come home, and star Ryan said he felt ‘honoured’ to be at the centre of it.

‘It feels like the show is building a foundation for the Sugden family for hopefully when Victoria returns,’ he said.

‘It does feel like there are these tribes that are emerging, which is nice, because there’ll be a lot of conflict and siding with people. It’s an exciting time to be back at the show. We’re very blessed that my personal involvement is as a legacy family.

‘The Sugdens getting to have Emmerdale farm is really cool. A few people have mentioned to me, “That’s great, isn’t it?”. I do feel very, very honoured and blessed to have that.

‘I actually watched an episode from the 80s, it was before Robert was born, and it was when Jack and Sarah were there and it was really quite cool. I don’t know how to describe it. To look at the show then and look at it now, and see that continuity and be a part of that. It’s great.’

Robert’s dream of continuing his family’s legacy, however, has come with a number of drawbacks, largely due to Joe and his manipulative ways as the Home Farm schemer has proven time and again that – even when you share a common goal – you simply cannot trust him.

Not only did he use Robert’s desire to get back into the farming game to cause trouble with the Dingles, thus driving a wedge between the clan, but he also blackmailed Robert after he took the reins of the land.

‘It’s just compounding misery for him,’ said Ryan of Joe’s involvement. ‘This dream of the farm but Joe is just constantly dangling the carrot and moving it away and toying with him and making his life more difficult and enjoying seeing Robert struggle. It’s not all that it’s cracked up to be, the farming life.’

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Robert also feels guilty for planting the ID cards up at Butlers at Joe’s request – an action which ultimately led to Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) being arrested on human trafficking charges.

Upcoming scenes will see him consumed with regret, so much so that he contemplates turning himself in to the police so that Moira can walk free and reunite with her loved ones – particularly Kyle, who is struggling with the prospect of losing another relative.

‘Robert feels the weight of the consequences of what he’s done, and feels that the only way that he can make things right is by putting himself back in the situation where he’d get charged with tampering with evidence and then have to go to prison,’ said Ryan.

But there is soon a glimmer of hope, when Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) makes reference to a number plate belonging to Ray Walters (Joe Absolom), which leads Robert and Aaron in search of clues to help free Moira.

As for whether they’ll succeed remains to be seen but fans can expect more to come whether Joe Tate is concerned. ‘He’s very manipulative,’ said Ryan of Robert’s adversary. ‘I’m Team Robert. I want him to get the best of Joe, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Joe’s really got him in a pickle!’.

And as for whether Robert could ever take over Home Farm? Ryan’s not so sure, reflecting on how much his alter-ego has changed since his last stint in the village.

‘When I came into [Emmerdale] last time, Robert was like, “I’m going to be king of Home Farm, and I’m going to show everyone that I’ve made something of myself”. And it feels like this is a very different kind of Robert, a very different stage of his life.

‘And what he really wants is he recognises the values of family and of bonds and of love and less destructive behaviour, despite the Moira things that are happening right now.

‘It feels like he’s a much more sympathetic character. I think perhaps his intentions are less power and dominion and more of creating a family and creating the things that are important to him, attaining the things that are important to him.’

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX and YouTube.

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