Robert Sugden is one of the most complicated characters in Emmerdale. He’s been both a killer and a cut-throat businessman yet since the birth of his son Seb and marriage to Aaron he’s become a changed person.
Four actors – Richard Smith, Christopher Smith, Karl Davies and Ryan Hawley – have played Robert since he first appeared in 1986. Hawley, who joined in 2014, has been the biggest hit with viewers.
The pairing of Robert and Aaron, dubbed Robron by their millions of devoted fans, has been the gift that keeps on giving.
There have been spectacular fights, break ups, make ups, an unexpected baby, a ‘Who Shot Robert’ murder mystery and the Hotten bypass multiple pile-up which nearly killed them both.
As we unpack Robert’s 33 year soap history it’s a miracle he’s still here to tell the tale.
Who are Robert Sugden’s parents?
Robert is the son of Jack and Pat Sugden. Pat Harker first dated farm lad Jack in her teens but they didn’t get married until 1982 after Pat had separated from her first husband Tom Merrick.
Bouncing baby Robert Jacob arrived on April 22, 1986 which brought Jack and Pat closer together again after Jack had previously had an affair.
The family’s joy was short lived when Pat died four months later in a car crash after swerving to avoid some sheep – a classic old school Emmerdale death.
In December 1988 Jack and Sarah Connolly got together and it is his stepmum that brought Robert up until her horrific death in a farm blaze in 2000.
The last time Robert saw his dad was after Robert forced Andy’s Land Rover off the road in a game of chicken, killing passenger Max King.
“You drive till you’re
well away and you don’t come back. Do you hear me? You’re on your own.” That was Jack’s advice. Robert returned for his dad’s funeral in 2009 and left a single rose on his grave.
Who are Robert Sugden’s siblings?
Robert has a half-brother Tommy Merrick who left the village in 1972 with his mum Pat and has never returned.
He has two half sisters Sandie Merrick, who lives in Scotland with her dad Tom, and Victoria Sugden who is still in Emmerdale and was Robert’s Best Person at his official wedding to Aaron last year.
Robert also had a brother, Jackie Merrick, who died in a shotgun accident in 1989 after going shooting with poacher Seth Armstrong.
Last but by no means least is Robert’s adoptive brother Andy. Jack and Sarah fostered Andy in 1996 with Robert often feeling that his mum and dad loved Andy more than they loved him.
Robert and Andy had to be pulled apart by Victoria on Andy’
’
’
’
’’
’–
‘’
’
’
’’’
’’
’
“”“”
’
’
’
’
’
’
’
’
“’”“’’”
“”
“’
“’’’’”