Emmerdale’s Isabel Hodgins, who plays Victoria Sugden, spoke to Metro.co.uk recently about being part of the soap’s legendary Sugden family – who have been few in number in recent years. So with the arrival of Victoria’s half brother John (Oliver Farnworth), Victoria has been keen to make sure that he stays in the village.
‘When I first came into it, there were so many of us and it was always seen as us all around the table having breakfast and stuff,’ she recalled. ‘And as the years have gone on, the numbers have dwindled. So it’s nice to try and re-establish the Sugden family and the Sugden connection, really.
‘I think she’s been on her own for quite a while. And anybody who watches Emmerdale knows it’s all about family and that community. And so it can be a lonely place when you haven’t got any family. So I think she’s thrilled that she’s finally got another Sugden around.’
While Victoria has welcomed the newcomer with open arms, ‘lone wolf’ John has been reluctant to get too close to his half sister and seems determined that he doesn’t want to put down roots.
‘He really doesn’t care,’ Isabel said. ‘He’s very much, he’s staying in the village until he can drive off in his van. That’s his life, it revolves around that van. So he doesn’t care about the Sugdens.’
Viewers have seen Victoria frequently being confronted by John’s surly attitude, but she has pressed on regardless, determined to keep John in her life.
‘She doesn’t care what’s going on as long as he stays. So I think that leaves her open to like, she’s not that bothered, actually, if he’s a good guy or not, or, you know, how he receives her because he’s not that warm. He’s not that friendly, but he’s a Sugden and he’s there. And that’s all that matters.’
Isabel reflected that, as stubborn as John is, Victoria can be equally single-minded. ‘I think she’s determined. And once Victoria is determined about something, that’s it. So she’s gonna try her damnedest to make it work and make it stick.’
John and Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) have been involved in a secret relationship that started when they first met up on an app. There’s a strong attraction between them – somewhat complicated by the fact that John is the brother of Aaron’s ex, Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley).
Isabel said that Victoria’s main worry about this relationship would be that, if things went wrong between the two men, John would leave Emmerdale.
‘If they continue to see each other and it goes wrong, John’s going to leave and he’s going to leave the village. And that’s the last thing that she wants. So that’s why she is so bothered.’
The fact that Aaron was previously married to one of her other brothers, Robert, wouldn’t worry her so much, she speculated.
‘She wanted people to accept her and Jacob (Joe-Warren Plant) after being with David (Matthew Wolfenden),’ she reasoned, citing her character’s previous relationship with the son of her ex. ‘So then it would be a bit hypocritical of her to not give that relationship a chance if she saw that they were both happy and that it worked.’
The main hurdle in getting to know John is how defensive he is as a character – and keeping his relationship with Aaron quiet is just one facet of that.
‘I think she wants to get to know him and she’d love for him to open up to her. And I just think it’s like blow after blow after blow of going, oh, he really doesn’t consider me as family because he doesn’t confide in me. So I just think it’s constant frustration that she’s not really getting anywhere with him.’
