Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) has found himself in the middle of an emotionally complicated love triangle in Emmerdale. On the one hand, he’s rekindling his relationship with the love of his life, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller).  On the other there’s his secret prison husband, Kev (Chris Coghill).

And so far neither man knows about the other.

‘Robert didn’t ever think he would see Kev again and then he turns up out of the blue and he’s like, oh my God. It’s an absolute bombshell,’ Ryan Hawley admitted.

‘Kev loves him and there’s quite a complicated relationship. They’re lovers, they’re married, they’re husband and husband. They both love each other but it’s kind of to what degree does Robert love Kev and what degree does he love Aaron?’

Well, exactly. In the wake of John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) fleeing from the village after almost killing Aaron and Mackenzie (Lawrence Robb) and actually killing Nate Robinson (Jurell Carter), Aaron is obviously at his most fragile and vulnerable and is hoping for a period of calm and peace as he rebuilds his relationship with Robert.

All the while, Robert is keeping the secret that he has a husband in prison. Kev turned up unexpectedly in the village to tell Robert he was allowed out on day release because he’s dying. After he’d gone, Robert told his sister Victoria (Isabel Hodgins) about Kev and how he saved Robert’s life when they were in prison together.

Ryan told us that Robert is very aware that in Aaron’s current mental state he couldn’t cope with the news that Robert is married to another man.

‘Robert does try to tell him, he tries to tell him several times,’ he insisted. ‘Because of what’s been going on with John, Aaron’s in a very fragile place. So there are several times he tries to say it and he’s like, if I say it it’s just going to drop another bombshell on top of everything else Aaron’s got going on. So he’s not able to do it.’

The actor is really enjoying the current storyline and the fact that it’s very nuanced – Kev is not a stereotypical baddie.

‘He’s a big obstacle and something very different and volatile. 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.’

As the storyline plays out, Ryan is thrilled to be back at Emmerdale, and especially that the iconic Robron are back together.

‘I’m really pleased to be back working with Danny,’ he said.

‘When I first came back I wasn’t working with him that much. I was kind of working with everyone else but talking about Aaron, so that was always the end point. It’s great to be working with Danny again because we have loads of fun on set. He’s a brilliant actor. He’s a real fun guy to work with and I’m glad to be back with him.’

And the best part about it?

‘I was just so happy to get to kiss Danny again. That was why I came back. In the five years that I was gone I was just adamant that I would come back so I could kiss Danny Miller!’

But can Robron survive the huge secret of Robert’s prison husband? Ryan isn’t sure.

‘It would be pretty boring if it was just plain sailing. Everyone would get bored after five or ten minutes of it. There has to be some kind of conflict and obstacles for the characters to overcome to test their relationship and see them triumph against adversity. Kev’s a massive spanner in the works.

‘I’m really glad Robert and Aaron are back together – but how long will it last?’