Emmerdale is revisiting one of its most emotionally charged storylines tonight as Robert Sugden finally opens up about his time in prison — and viewers are being promised three shocking twists that will reshape his future.

The special flashback episode, now streaming early on ITVX and YouTube ahead of its TV debut, dives deep into the years Robert spent behind bars, exploring the torment, loyalty, and betrayal that defined his incarceration.

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Robert Finally Breaks His Silence

After weeks of quiet tension, Robert (Ryan Hawley) is ready to tell Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) the truth about what really happened to him in prison. His confession is sparked by Kev’s revelation about a deadly altercation — a prisoner murdered by the notorious Jez, the man who made Robert’s life a living nightmare.

Haunted by the fact that he survived where others didn’t, Robert begins to unpack years of trauma, guilt, and the complicated bond he formed with Kev, the fellow inmate who helped him endure.

The episode cuts between Robert’s memories of prison life and his present-day conversation with Aaron and Victoria Sugden, allowing viewers to piece together the truth alongside them.

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Lies, Loyalty, and the Weight of Guilt

Meanwhile, in the present, Dr. Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) faces a moral dilemma of his own. He’s discovered that Kev has been lying — he doesn’t have a terminal heart condition, despite what he’s told Robert.

Bound by doctor-patient confidentiality, Liam can’t expose the truth but urges Kev to come clean. The revelation adds another layer to the tangled web of loyalty and deception that surrounds Robert’s return to the Dales.