Emmerdale fans ‘can’t believe it’ over ‘forgotten’ Robert Sugden detail

Emmerdale’s Robert Sugden has been a household name on the ITV soap for decades, but his landmark celebration appears to have been forgotten

Robert Sugden stands as one of Emmerdale’s most cherished characters yet his landmark birthday seems to have slipped through the cracks on the ITV soap.

Actor Ryan Hawley has embodied the character since 2014, and many are unable to picture the Dales without him. However, as devoted viewers of the programme will recall, Ryan wasn’t the original actor to portray Robert – he was actually the fourth.

The character made his on-screen debut in 1986, when his parents, Jack (Clive Hornby) and Pat Sugden (Helen Weir), brought him into the world. Richard Smith was the first actor to take on the role as an infant.

Karl Davis subsequently took on the role and made it his own, appearing in the cast from 2001 to 2005. The performer made a brief comeback in 2009 for his father’s funeral.

He featured in several major plotlines, including an ongoing rivalry with his brother Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) and conducting an affair with his spouse Katie (Sammy Winward). Robert did make his return in 2014, however, but this time, Ryan Hawley assumed the character.

In 2019, Robert received a 14-year prison sentence for the killing of Lee Posner (Kris Mochrie). His exit occurred just one year after exchanging vows with his beloved, Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller), in October 2018, reports the Express.

In May 2025, Ryan made his comeback to the Dales as Robert and was eager to rekindle his relationship with his former husband, Aaron, who was now set to wed John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth). A year on from his dramatic return, Robert and Aaron are jointly managing Butlers Farm and find themselves at odds with Joe Tate (Ned Porteous).

In Thursday’s episode (April 23), Moira Dingle (Natalie J. Robb) offered to lend a hand at her former farm and casually mentioned to Robert that it was her birthday.

However, Robert didn’t acknowledge that he had turned 40 on April 22, as the show overlooked his significant birthday despite his on-screen birth, much to fans’ disappointment.

One viewer took to X, writing: “Moira mentioning her birthday today to Robert of all people and Robert not saying ‘YEAH I TURNED 40 YESTERDAY’ is kinda incredible. Overlooking a landmark birthday of one of the first children born on the show is one hell of a choice – accidental or not #Emmerdale.”

Another declared: “Happy 40th Birthday Robert Sugden! You may not have been on screen today, but that means they can’t tell me this didn’t happen. #robron #emmerdale.”

A third added their voice: “#Emmerdale It’s a shame that Emmerdale didn’t show Robert’s 40th birthday on screen, especially after Robert’s return after six years with Ryan Hawley. Happy Birthday Robert. An iconic character!”

“Robert Sugden turns 40 today! (Although #Emmerdale seems to have forgotten on screen!)”, chimed in another viewer.