Emmerdale clues you missed that Ryan Hawley was returning as Robert Sugden

Emmerdale's Robert Sugden made a shocking return to the Dales this evening - as Aaron Dingle prepared to tie the knot. Fans have been left stunned by Robert's return, years after actor Ryan Hawley quit his role.

Speaking about his return, he said: "Rejoining the cast of feels fantastic. I've been having so much fun being back here. Oddly, more fun than I thought it was going to be, in a good way.

"We've been filming some great stuff, there’s a lot more to Robert's return than just the value of opening the door. I've been having so much fun, everyone's been lovely, and there are a lot of familiar faces and loads of really positive energy about the place. There's lots of drama, lots of conflict. There’s the dilemma for Aaron and John and also his return affects so many other people in the village."

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The show has been hinting about a return for a while. Here's all the clues you missed that Robert was coming back...

Danny's comments

Danny Miller has always maintained he'd love to see Robert back in the Dales. The pair worked together years, and with their characters in a relationship, they shared many scenes.

"For me, as an actor, Ryan coming back as Robert would be great but I know he's got a young family himself and he's off doing bits and bobs himself so maybe one day we'll be able to tempt him back. But not anything imminent," he said a few years back.

Yesterday,where they asked about Robert coming back. Asked about the potential, he quipped: "It's so , the line's just gone down as you've asked that question."

Before then adding: "What I will say is there are some surprises, whether that happens or not, I don't know. But certainly what I can say is that originally when this idea was pitched and thought about, Robert, whoever that is, wasn't part of the plan."

Recent mention

When John arrived, fans were distraught to think that it might mean the end of Robron for good. But John quickly bonded with Aaron and it wasn't long before they became an item.

However, John has been expressing his concerns over his romance with Aaron and there have been odd mentions of Aaron's previous long term relationship. John, though, is certainly more cagey about his past.

Although that is not a surprise given than he tried to kill - and then save - his former lover Aidan Moore, with Aidan ending up in a coma once again after John chicken out from injecting him.

Calls for comeback

It's not only Danny that wanted Robert to return. Mike Parr - who plays Ross Barton - also said he'd love to see Ryan back on the soap. He shared: "It has to be Robert, doesn't it, he is a fan favourite.

"I think I would love to bring him back just to satisfy the audience as I see how thirsty they all are for him, for Ryan Hawley's return. He was a lot of fun to work with, when Robert and Danny (Aaron Dingle) were together they made a good villain for Ross to go against."

Secret code names

So careful were Emmerdale about Robert's return getting out that they used special codenames to keep it secret.

"Yes we have been really trying to keep the fact I’m back under wraps for the viewers. I was given a code name of ‘Marco’, In fact I think everyone's sick of hearing the name Marco. I've been using a secret entrance to get into the building and I've had a driver picking me up from my house and driving me to Emmerdale," he said.

"Plus most of my scenes have even been scheduled in the village so that I wouldn't run the risk of bumping into people and it getting out. There's so much effort that's gone into it. I didn't tell anyone."

He added: "I didn't tell my family or friends. Just fairly recently, I said, 'it's Ryan, I play Robert' and the security guard said 'what’s your code name.' I said, 'Marco.' And then he let me in! I can’t wait for the audience’s reaction, I hope some of them are shocked to see him."

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