Emmerdale Full Episode | Tuesday 23rd December – Preview

Tuesday night’s episode of Emmerdale delivers one of the most emotionally charged and dangerous chapters yet for Aaron Dingle and Robert Sugden, as past mistakes, buried secrets, and a ruthless new threat collide with devastating consequences. What begins as a dispute over fatherhood quickly spirals into a web of revenge, obsession, and manipulation—proving that in this village, the past is never truly buried.

Aaron and Robert’s relationship has always thrived in adversity, forged through betrayal, prison sentences, and impossible choices. Yet just as they dare to hope for a future involving Robert’s son Seb, another obstacle emerges—one that threatens not only their relationship, but the very safety of everyone involved.

The drama ignites when Ross Barton confronts Aaron and Robert over their decision to contact Angela Reynolds, the woman with legal control over Seb’s future. Ross is furious, accusing the couple of reopening wounds that should have been left alone. He reminds Robert that he signed a transfer agreement, effectively stepping away from his son’s life, and insists that he—Ross—has been the more stable presence for Seb. To Ross, this isn’t about what’s best for the child; it’s about Robert’s guilt and unfinished business. His words cut deeply, and he storms out after issuing a stark warning: if they truly care about Seb, they should walk away.

Left reeling, Robert is forced to confront a truth he has spent years avoiding. His longing for Seb is raw and consuming, and Ross’s accusations strike at the heart of his deepest regret. Aaron, fiercely loyal, refuses to let Ross have the final word. He follows him, challenging Ross for deliberately interfering in Robert’s life. Ross fires back with brutal honesty, accusing them of risking Seb’s stability simply to satisfy their own emotional needs.

Tensions escalate further when Aaron discovers his car windshield smashed. Certain Ross is responsible, Aaron confronts him, but Ross denies any involvement—though his threatening response only fuels suspicion. Meanwhile, Ross confides in his brother Lewis, revealing that giving up Seb was the hardest decision of his life. Beneath his gruff exterior lies a man haunted by guilt, convinced he has failed both his son and Seb’s mother, Rebecca White.

When Robert sees the damage to Aaron’s car, his certainty hardens into something darker. Convinced Ross is trying to intimidate them into backing off, Robert begins plotting revenge. True to form, he turns to his old criminal instincts, quietly fabricating evidence to frame Ross for a serious auto-parts theft. Robert believes that if Ross is tied up with police scrutiny, he won’t be able to interfere with Seb’s future.

What Robert doesn’t realize is that someone else has already stepped back into their lives—someone far more dangerous than Ross Barton.

Lurking in the shadows is Kevin Townsend, a figure fans will remember with dread. Earlier this year, Kevin stunned viewers when he revealed himself as Robert’s former husband, whom Robert married while in prison. Their relationship ended in violence and betrayal, and Kevin fled the village after attacking Robert upon discovering that Robert and Aaron had reunited behind his back.

Now Kevin has returned—and he’s watching everything.

It is eventually revealed that Kevin, not Ross, smashed Aaron’s windshield. From the bushes near the garage, Kevin observes Robert’s shady dealings, recording evidence on his phone with a chilling calm. His intentions are clear: he wants Robert to self-destruct. To Kevin, revenge is not about quick retaliation, but slow, methodical destruction.

As Robert focuses on Ross, Aaron begins to sense that something is terribly wrong. An envelope appears on their doorstep containing a prison wedding photograph of Robert and Kevin—an image Robert believed destroyed forever. Soon after, a funeral wreath arrives at Aaron’s workplace, bearing a chilling message: “For what is dead and what is ending. Goodbye, my dear husband.” The psychological torment is unmistakable.

Aaron’s fear grows when he realises Ross, for all his hostility, isn’t capable of this level of cruelty. His instincts are proven right when Ross turns up furious and bruised, revealing that police have raided his home based on false evidence. Ross is convinced Robert has set him up to clear a path back to Seb, and his rage threatens to spiral out of control.

The truth finally comes crashing down when Robert returns home to find his carefully constructed evidence destroyed. Across the wall, painted in red, are the words: “Family never belongs to a traitor.” In that moment, Robert understands his fatal mistake. Ross was never the enemy. Kevin was.

Kevin’s campaign of terror escalates dramatically when he begins manipulating Angela Reynolds directly. Posing as a social investigator, he feeds her fabricated evidence of Robert’s violent past, ensuring her fears are confirmed and the door to Seb’s return is slammed shut.

The episode builds to a heart-stopping climax on a night of torrential rain. Robert receives a call from an unknown number. Kevin’s voice is calm, almost affectionate, as he claims to be with Seb. Panicked and desperate, Robert races into the storm, ignoring Aaron’s pleas to stop. Unbeknownst to Robert, Aaron has taken precautions, secretly tracking him and calling Cain Dingle for help.

Robert is led to an abandoned house, where Kevin finally reveals the truth: Seb was never there. It was all a psychological trap. Armed with a knife and driven by obsession, Kevin confronts Robert with the pain of their shared past, accusing him of abandonment and betrayal. A violent struggle erupts, forcing Robert to fight not just for his life, but for the people he loves.

When Aaron bursts in and is injured during the chaos, something in Robert snaps. In a raw, ferocious moment, he overpowers Kevin, holding nothing back. The police arrive just in time, arresting Kevin as he laughs maniacally, promising that this is far from over.

Kevin’s final revelation is devastating. Angela Reynolds doesn’t hate Robert—she fears him. And Kevin has ensured that fear will last forever.

In the aftermath, Ross is exonerated, but the damage is irreparable. Determined to protect Seb from what he sees as the Sugden family’s chaos, Ross decides to leave, taking the boy somewhere Robert can never reach. As Ross’s car disappears down the road, Robert is left standing on his porch, hollow and defeated.

He may have survived Kevin’s return—but he has lost Seb, perhaps forever.

Tuesday’s episode is a masterclass in Emmerdale storytelling: dark, emotional, and relentless, reminding viewers that in this village, love is never simple, and the past always comes back to collect its debt.