Emmerdale’s Oliver Farnworth Confesses He’s a Secret Robron Fan
Villainous John Sugden Meets His Match
Emmerdale fans are used to high-stakes drama in the Dales, but this week the tension hit an all-time high as John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) escalated his sinister schemes. From kidnapping Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) and holding him in a hidden underground bunker to throwing his husband Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) off a cliff, John has proven himself to be one of the soap’s most chilling villains in recent years.
Yet behind the scenes, Oliver Farnworth revealed a surprising secret: he’s a huge fan of the beloved pairing Aaron and Robert Sugden, affectionately known by fans as Robron. Speaking on the red carpet at the National Television Awards on September 10, the 43-year-old actor admitted, “From a selfish point of view, I want Aaron to stay with John. But when I watched the episodes the other night, I was a Robron fan because I was like, ‘Come on, Aaron, you can do this!’”
Oliver’s confession delighted fans, highlighting that even actors playing villains can’t resist rooting for a fan-favourite romance when the storyline is as compelling as Emmerdale’s latest arc. “I found myself really invested, and I think that’s just testament to what Matt Hilton, the director, created. What the show as a whole can bring to people. I’m just a fan, full stop,” he added.
Bringing a Soap Villain to Life
Farnworth also reflected on the challenges and rewards of playing such a complex antagonist. “It’s been enjoyable to portray an iconic soap villain. We get the scripts, understand our jobs as actors, and work in a very, very safe environment,” he said. He praised the professionalism on set, explaining that scenes involving violence are closely managed.
“For instance, me and Danny, me and Lawrence—Aaron and Mackenzie—whenever we’re doing anything violent, it never is that way. We always have professionals around, and we’re able to talk about the storylines. It’s our job to bring this story to life,” Oliver added.
The camaraderie on set is a highlight for the actor. “Danny and I can be bawling our eyes out one minute, fighting each other the next as our characters, and then just hugging and having a laugh at lunchtime. We leave everything on the pitch; we never take our work home with us.”
Inside the Bunker
One of the most talked-about sequences this week was the dramatic underground bunker where Mackenzie was held hostage. Oliver gave fans a glimpse behind the scenes: “The set that they built was really, really claustrophobic. It was a purpose-built set, so it never existed before. We were the first ones to ever use this set.”
He continued: “When you saw the woods going down the stairs, that was literally stairs into the earth. Once you came down, that was in the studio. Just opening a door and shutting it behind you, being six foot, is crazy.” The realism of the set helped heighten the tension onscreen, making John’s manipulative schemes even more chilling for viewers.
What’s Next for John, Aaron, and Robert?
During Thursday’s (September 11) episode, available now on ITVX, Robert feared for Aaron’s life as he was questioned at the police station. Meanwhile, John regained his strength in the hospital and visited Aaron, lying to the authorities that Robert had attacked him. With Robert’s future uncertain and Aaron still in an induced coma, the drama is far from over.
Fans are left wondering: will Robert find a way to expose John’s dangerous manipulation? And will Robron finally get their moment to reunite amidst the chaos John has created?
Emmerdale continues to deliver edge-of-your-seat drama, combining intense psychological tension, fan-favourite romance, and behind-the-scenes dedication that keeps audiences returning week after week.