Emmerdale star Isabel Hodgins has revealed the moment she first learned that Robert Sugden would be making a surprise return to the soap.

In a return that has left fans stunned, Robert crashed his ex Aaron Dingle’s wedding to John earlier this week, with the former flames quick to reignite their sizzling chemistry.

And speaking to MailOnline at the Soap Awards, Isabel, who plays Robert’s sister Victoria, has shared the exact moment she discovered Ryan Hawley would be coming back to the show after a six-year break.

She said: ‘I found out because Danny [Miller] knew, and Danny and I are very good friends, and we talk and he said ”can you keep a secret?”… so that’s when he blabbed to me, in the New Year, and then I just pretended I knew nothing.

‘It’s gonna be impactful and it’s gonna be a big rumble, and people are gonna love it.’

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Emmerdale star Isabel Hodgins has revealed the moment she first learned that Robert Sugden (pictured) would be making a surprise return to the soap

Speaking to MailOnline at the Soap Awards, Isabel, who plays Robert’s sister Victoria revealed she first learned of Robert’s shock return from her co-star Danny Miller

Asked how Victoria will react to Robert’s return, Isabel added: ‘I think she’s gonna be conflicted because she’s got a heart of gold, and now she’s got two brothers to love who ultimately love the same person, and John’s a really nice guy, Robert’s not! 

‘So whose the better fit for Aaron. It’s a tricky one isn’t it, so she’s going to have to navigate that so good luck for her!’

Of course, viewers are aware of John’s murderous behaviour since he entered the village, and have been eagerly waiting for the moment his crimes are exposed.

Aaron also remains blissfully unaware, and despite Robert’s return, he decided to go ahead with his wedding to John.

It remains to be seen when John’s web lies will catch up with him, and when grilled about how things will play out in the coming weeks, Isabel was noticeably тιԍнт-lipped.

She added: ‘I don’t know, but he’s so good, so subtle at how much of a bad guy it is, so I think it would be nice to eek it out a bit more, how much of a mess are his lies gonna get him.’

Hinting fans are in for a ‘wild ride,’ the actress added: ‘She’s obviously got to get to know Robert all over again, and then I also think they’ve got things to sort out, there’s a little bit of guilt there because the reason he’s in prison in the first place is kind of because of her, so you’ve got to unpack that.’

Asked how Victoria will react to Robert’s return, Isabel said her character Victoria Sugden will be ‘conflicted,’ as she’s torn between her brother, and her half-sibling John (pictured)

Read More British Soap Awards after party is evacuated after ‘bomb threat’ security alert

The best and brightest in serial drama were in attendance for the British Soap Awards on Saturday, with the ceremony set to be broadcast on ITV on June 5.

It was the BBC’s EastEnders that cleaned up on the night with eight awards while Hollyoaks received three, Emmerdale two and Coronation Street only one.

They kicked off their wins with Best Episode which went to Phil’s Psychosis: The Mitchells In 1985.

EastEnders also won Scene of the Year for Angie Watts’ Shock Return while Navin Chowdhry won Best Villain for his role of Nish Panesar.

Steve McFadden, who plays fan favourite Phil Mitchell, won the Best Dramatic Performance award while Patsy Palmer won Best Comedic Performance for her role as Bianca Jackson.  

Rudolph Walker & Angela Wynter (Patrick & Yolande Trueman) delivered another win for EastEnders as they won Best On-Screen Partnership.

Lacey Turner, who plays Stacey Slater, won the Best Leading Performer Award and EastEnders also won the most coveted award of all: Best British Soap.

Hollyoaks’ three awards started with Isabelle Smith who won Best Newcomer for her role as Frankie Osborne.

The Osbornes then won the Best Family award while Hollyoaks’ sibling Sєxual abuse storyline received the Best Storyline award.

Emmerdale’s Amelia Flanagan won Best Young Performer for playing April Windsor while camera operator Mike Plant took home the Tony Warren Award which is given to employees working behind the scenes.

Coronation Street’s sole gong of the night was the Outstanding Achievement Award which went to David Neilson who has played Roy Cropper for 30 years.

The British Soap Awards will air on Thursday, June 5 at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. 

British Soap Awards 2025: Full List of Winners

Viewer Voted Categories:

Best British Soap:

Coronation Street

EastEnders – WINNER

Emmerdale

Hollyoaks

Best Leading Performer:

Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater, EastEnders) – WINNER

Kellie Bright (Linda Carter, EastEnders)

Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale)

Beth Cordingly (Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale)

Villain of the Year:

Calum Lill (Joel Deering, Coronation Street)

Navin Chowdhry (Nish Panesar, EastEnders) – WINNER

Ned Porteous (Joe Tate, Emmerdale)

Tyler Conti (Abe Fielding, Hollyoaks)

Best Comedy Performance:

Jack P Shepherd (David Platt, Coronation Street)

Patsy Palmer (Bianca Jackson, EastEnders) – WINNER

Nicola Wheeler (Nicola King, Emmerdale)

Nicole Barber-Lane (Myra McQueen, Hollyoaks)

Panel Voted Categories:

Best Family:

The Platts (Coronation Street)

The Slaters (EastEnders)

The Dingles (Emmerdale)

The Osbornes (Hollyoaks) – WINNER

Best Dramatic Performance:

Peter Ash (Paul Foreman, Coronation Street)

Steve McFadden (Phil Mitchell, EastEnders) – WINNER

Eden Taylor-Draper (Belle Dingle, Emmerdale)

Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks)

Best Single Episode:

Mason’s death (Coronation Street)

Phil’s psychosis: the Mitchells in 1985 (EastEnders) – WINNER

April’s life on the streets (Emmerdale)

Hollyoaks time jump (Hollyoaks)

Best On-Screen Partnership:

Alison King and Vicky Myers (Carla Connor and Lisa Swain, Coronation Street)

Rudolph Walker and Angela Wynter (Patrick and Yolande Trueman, EastEnders) – WINNER

William Ash and Beth Cordingly (Caleb and Ruby Miligan, Emmerdale)

Nathaniel Dᴀss and Oscar Curtis (Dillon Ray and Lucas Hay, Hollyoaks)

Best Newcomer:

Jacob Roberts (Kit Green, Coronation Street)

Laura Doddington (Nicola Mitchell, EastEnders)

Shebz Miah (Kammy Hadiq, Emmerdale)

Isabelle Smith (Frankie Osborne, Hollyoaks) – WINNER

Best Storyline:

Paul’s battle with MND (Coronation Street)

Phil Mitchell: Hypermasculinity in crisis (EastEnders)

Belle and Tom – Domestic Abuse (Emmerdale)

Sibling Sєxual abuse (Hollyoaks) – WINNER

Best Young Performer:

Will Flanagan (Joseph Winter-Brown, Coronation Street)

Sonny Kendall (Tommy Moon, EastEnders)

Amelia Flanagan (April Windsor, Emmerdale) – WINNER

Noah Holdsworth (Oscar Osborne, Hollyoaks)

Scene of the Year:

Mason’s death (Coronation Street)

Angie Watts’ shock return (EastEnders) – WINNER

Amy’s deathly plunge reveals a grisly secret (Emmerdale)

Mercedes confronts her mortality (Hollyoaks)