ITV Shakes Up Emmerdale Schedule as Shocking Mystery Man Arrives in the Village
Emmerdale Pulled From Usual Slot
Emmerdale fans tuning in tonight (Tuesday, September 23) will notice a disruption in their evening routine. Instead of the usual 7.30pm start, the soap will air at 7pm on ITV and ITVX. The scheduling shake-up is to make room for live coverage of the EFL Cup clash between Liverpool and Southampton, which kicks off at 8pm.
Thankfully, this is a one-night-only change. Emmerdale will return to its regular slot for the rest of the week, with Thursday promising a bumper hour-long episode at 7.30pm. For viewers who can’t wait, tonight’s episode is also available to stream early on ITVX.
John Sugden’s Fate Hangs in the Balance
Viewers are still reeling from recent explosive episodes, where John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) attempted to flee the Dales with Caleb Milligan’s (Will Ash) help. Whether John can truly escape justice is set to be a key focus, as tensions surrounding his crimes continue to rock the village.
The schedule shake-up may delay the drama by half an hour, but fans are more eager than ever to find out if John can outsmart Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) and his enemies—or if his reign of terror is about to collapse.
A Stranger in the Village
While John’s storyline dominates headlines, another shocking twist is looming. In upcoming episodes, a mysterious stranger arrives in Emmerdale, sparking intrigue and suspicion. Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) is among the first to notice the unfamiliar face wandering the village, asking for directions.
Fans were already intrigued last week when Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) received a cryptic text message. Soon after, the same stranger is seen knocking on Robert’s door—leaving him completely floored. Too stunned to answer at first, Robert eventually lets the man inside once he’s sure the coast is clear.
A Familiar Face From Robert’s Past
The stranger’s identity will leave viewers reeling. He isn’t just a random visitor—he’s a former prison acquaintance of Robert’s. Their reunion will set off a chain of events that could threaten Robert’s marriage and his place in the village.
When Robert is later caught by his sister Victoria holding hands with this man, the shock is palpable. Victoria knows something isn’t right and demands answers. Why is Robert hiding this relationship? And more importantly—what will Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) make of it when the truth comes out?
Trouble for Robert and Aaron
Robert’s marriage has already been tested many times, but this new arrival could push it to breaking point. Caught between his past and his present, Robert must navigate the fallout of Victoria’s questions while hiding the truth from Aaron.
The question fans are asking is simple: is Robert about to betray Aaron once again? Or is this connection with his prison acquaintance more complicated than it first appears?