Emmerdale star Ryan Hawley has exclusively told Inside Soap that a life will be on the line during a dramatic Christmas period for Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle.

As things stand, the pair are separated, with Aaron ditching Robert after he discovered his marriage to newly-released convict Kev Townsend.

Despite Robert’s best efforts to encourage his former husband to wait for him, on the basis that he is only with terminally ill Kev for money, Aaron refused to stand by and wait for him.

Since then, Aaron revealed to Kev that Robert had been “all over” him before his arrival in the village, resulting in Kev making a sinister threat on Aaron’s life.

And as actor Ryan Hawley told us, it’s only going to get more difficult for Robert and Aaron as the festive period ramps up.

“It’s not a very easy time for Aaron and Robert this December,” he teased. “The events leading up to Christmas and New Year into the Corriedale special are very high stakes.”

Whether or not Kev will play a part in the ordeal is yet to be revealed, but it’s clear that Robert will be thrown into some incredibly tough circumstances.

“Robert’s state of mind around Christmas is panic, very anxious,” Ryan explained. “There’s a threat to life this Christmas.”

But whatever comes Robert and Aaron’s way, fans can still expect the two men to retain their long-held love for each other.