Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) has found himself in a right old pickle in Emmerdale.

No sooner had he and his true love Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) decided to give their relationship another go than a rather large difficulty appeared in the form of Robert’s husband Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill).

Robert had married Kev in prison after the latter protected him from violence and intimidation from the other prisoners, and a warm relationship grew between them.

When Robert left prison, though, he expected his prison marriage to be something that stayed in his past. Kev was, after all, in prison for life. Sadly Kev’s life is going to be shorter than expected as he’s terminally ill, so he’s been released on compassionate grounds and headed straight to the village to be reunited with his husband – who stands to inherit a lot of money after Kev dies.

Kev is a man who instinctively tries to solve problems with violence. If you look at him – or Robert, because he’s very protective of Robert – the wrong way, you might find yourself getting a smack in the mouth.

At the same time we’ve seen different sides to Kev. He’s currently living with Charles (Kevin Mathurin) and Claudette (Flo Wilson) and he’s incredibly polite and sweet to Claudette. And he loves baking.

He also genuinely loves Robert, which means he genuinely hates Aaron, his love rival. Recently Mack had the not-so-bright idea of trying to get Ross (Mike Parr) to deal with the problem of Kev by making it look as though Kev had damaged Ross’ car. That didn’t work, and Kev is certain that it was Aaron who was behind the whole plan.

In Monday (November 3)’s episode, Robert was having a drink at the Woolpack. Mack (Lawrence Robb) told him that boozing wouldn’t keep his psychopathic husband in check – and at that moment the psychopathic husband himself appeared.

He was a man on a mission. Taking Robert’s hand, he told him he loved him and that ‘for as long as I’ve got left, I want us to be proper.’ He then asked if Robert would do him the honour of renewing their marriage vows. He wanted to do things properly and give Robert the wedding he deserved, he said.

He’d arranged it with Charles for the day after tomorrow and all Robert has to do is ‘turn up looking gorgeous.’

When Robert said yes, Kev was thrilled. ‘This is it – me and you, happy ever after,’ he pledged.

Chas (Lucy Pargeter), Ryan (James Moore) and Mack, who were all watching this scene, were gobsmacked. ‘Did that just happen?’ Ryan wanted to know.

‘It did,’ said Mack, knowing how the news would affect Aaron and how Kev’s unpredictably violent nature means that he could blow up at any minute.

‘Armageddon here we come.’