Fan favourite Emmerdale couple in deadly danger as sinister killer returns in early ITVX release

This article contains spoilers for tonight’s Emmerdale, which has not yet aired on TV but is available to watch now on ITVX.

He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. No, it’s not Santa. But he does break into people’s houses at night – and he has a beard.

I can of course, only be talking about sinister serial killer, the murderous medic, John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), who makes a deadly return to Emmerdale on Christmas Day hoping for a kiss under the mistletoe with ex-husband Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) – and he’s definitely got Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) on his naughty list. Ho ho uh-oh!

Everyone’s favourite tortured-looking couple Robron aren’t exactly feeling festive this year due to the mystery tormentor who’s been setting fire to trees outside their flat and shooting at them with a rifle!

At first they assume it’s Rob’s prison husband, the man-bunned menace Kev Towsend (Christopher Coghill) because their enigmatic stalker posted a clue through their letter box – a Christmas card containing Kev’s wedding ring and a bullet. Subtle as ever, Kev.

To be fair, they’re not wrong. After having his heart broken by Robert and trying to attack Aaron with a sword, Kev has returned to the village just in time for Christmas to wreak revenge. But he can join the queue.

Because Big Bad John is back! Woop woop! The Sociopathic Sugden has a twisted obsession with playing the hero and has a habit of placing people in danger just so he can swoop in to save them. This time, he’s here to save Aaron from his perfectly happy relationship and eliminate the competition – his half-brother – for good.

In Emmerdale’s Christmas Day episode, Aaron is panicked when Robert goes missing… and so are we when we see a mystery figure tied up in a dark room! Has John finally got Robert where he wants him?

Here at Metro, we are not in the habit of opening our Christmas presents early, so you’ll have to tune in to find out if it is Robert or someone else at John’s mercy. But whoever it is, we don’t exactly fancy their chances…

Later, John breaks into Robert’s flat in search of Aaron, but it’s empty. All he finds are painful reminders of Aaron’s happy life without him. Frustrated, he stalks the village, and manages to duck out of sight just as a tipsy Caleb and Ruby Miligan (William Ash and Beth Cordingly) pass by.

Eavesdropping, John’s intrigued to learn from an oblivious Caleb where Aaron is sleeping tonight…

… so John sneaks in to find Aaron crashed out on the sofa, and has a near miss when Liam Cavanagh (Jonny McPherson) comes in to check on him. Once Liam has gone, it’s utterly creepy as John promises a sleeping Aaron that they’re going to be together forever.

What’s John got in store for Aaron and Rob? And where does crazed Kev fit into to all this? Could he be John Sugden’s partner in crime… or Robron’s unlikely saviour?