Emmerdale star Ryan Hawley unrecognisable six years after Robert Sugden exit

This wouldn’t be a list without calls for the infamous Robert Sugden to return to Emmerdale – he was last played by Ryan Hawley(Image: ITV)

Former Emmerdale heartthrob has completely transformed for a brand new part, leaving fans barely able to recognise him from his days in the Dales.

The 39-year-old actor, who played Robert Sugden on the ITV soap from 2014 to 2019, was at the centre of some of Emmerdale’s most gripping plots.

His portrayal of Robert’s romance with Aaron Dingle, played by Danny Miller, captured hearts nationwide, making them one of TV’s most adored duos.

Yet, their love story met a tragic end when Robert received a hefty 14-year sentence for killing Lee Posner, the man who assaulted his sister Victoria Sugden.

In his last Emmerdale moments, viewers watched Robert surrender to the police for his violent retaliation against Lee Posner. Fast forward nearly six years since those intense scenes, and Ryan Hawley has made a dashing comeback to television in U&alibi’s historical drama Miss Scarlet.

Ryan is well known for his love story with fellow villager Aaron Dingle, played by Danny Miller(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Ryan graced the screen as the charming James Bailey in the latest instalment, which premiered on Wednesday. Teasing his new gig, he looked a far cry from his soap opera image as he shared a snapshot of himself in character on Instagram.

Eager to update his fans, he penned: “The Thames Reaper is on the loose in this week’s episode of Miss Scarlet. Watch me, James Bailey help the eponymous hero crack the case! This Wednesday U&alibi 9pm UK.”

Emmerdale fans have been showing their love and longing for actor Ryan Hawley, who played the beloved Robert Sugden, to make a comeback to the soap. One adoring fan gushed: “Ah lovely to see you in another TV show. Hope to see you back in the Dales one day!”

Another chimed in with: “Robert Sugden we miss you.” A third echoed the sentiment, pleading: “Robert please come back to Emmerdale.”

There were more calls for his return as one fan stated: “Please come back to Emmerdale! !” and another expressed excitement: “Forward to seeing you on our screens again. We really need to see more of you.”

Since his departure from the Dales, Ryan has been gracing other television shows with his presence. He made an appearance on Casualty last year as Jamie Cleveland, and turned heads with a dramatic new look featuring a long hairstyle and beard in Silent Witness.

Additionally, he’s been part of Channel 5’s revival of All Creatures Great & Small as Sid Crabtree.