Emmerdale fans are finally getting the long-awaited answers about Robert Sugden’s mysterious prison years — and the new spoiler video for the upcoming flashback episode is already setting social media alight.

ITV has confirmed that the special episode, airing Wednesday, November 12, will peel back the curtain on Robert’s time behind bars, revealing how he met his volatile cellmate — and eventual prison husband — Kev.

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The Moment Robert Meets Kev

The chilling new clip shows a tense and claustrophobic moment as Robert (Ryan Hawley) arrives at Hotten Prison following his conviction.

As the door slams shut, his new cellmate Kev (Chris Coghill) wastes no time asserting dominance. Grabbing Robert by the throat and pinning him against the wall, Kev demands, “What are you in for?”

When Robert quietly replies, “Murder,” Kev scoffs — until Robert adds that his victim was his sister’s rapist. The tension shifts instantly. Kev releases him, his anger replaced by a flicker of respect.

Moments later, Kev shares his own story: he’s serving time for armed robbery, a crime he insists he didn’t commit. It’s the start of a relationship that will evolve from hostility to an unlikely bond — one forged in fear, violence, and survival.

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Ryan Hawley Teases a Big Twist

Actor Ryan Hawley, who returned to Emmerdale earlier this year, admitted he was stunned to learn that Robert’s prison life included a secret marriage.

“I didn’t know I had a husband in prison when I came back,” he revealed. “Then someone on set was like, ‘Oh yeah, your husband’s coming into it,’ and I was like, ‘What?’”

Ryan praised his co-star Chris Coghill for bringing Kev to life, describing their scenes together as intense but rewarding:

“We had some really nice scenes together, and Chris was brilliant. This flashback episode gives us a chance to tell a full story — and there’s one particularly very nice little twist that neither of us knew about until I read the script.”

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Fans Brace for More Secrets

The teaser has already sent fans into overdrive. Many have long speculated about what Robert endured in prison and how Kev fits into his complicated past. With Emmerdale known for weaving hidden trauma into emotional redemption arcs, this episode promises to redefine how fans see Robert — and possibly set up new tensions with Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) now that the truth is coming out.

As Robert recounts his story to Aaron and his sister Victoria Barton (Isabel Hodgins) in the present day, flashbacks will fill in the blanks — showing the darker side of his sentence, the power struggles behind bars, and the moment a brutal confrontation turned into something deeper.

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A Dark Chapter Ready to Be Told

The special flashback episode is expected to explore the blurred line between survival and affection, revealing how Robert’s bond with Kev shaped the man he became after prison.

As ITV teases, “Little do both men know what awaits them.”

It’s the Emmerdale event fans have been waiting for — a haunting look back at Robert Sugden’s lost years, packed with danger, loyalty, and a twist no one saw coming.