EMMERDALE is soon set to welcome back fan favourite star Ryan Hawley – but did you see it coming?

The Sun revealed Ryan, 39, would reprise his role as Robert Sugden after six years away.

Robert will be back in the village next month for a limited stint – six years after actor Ryan quit the show.

A source said: “It’s the biggest secret in soapland but Robert is returning to Emmerdale.

“Ryan has a lot of respect for the show and its fans and he really wanted to give them a treat so he agreed to come back for a brief stint.

“It’s going to be a huge surprise for fans especially the Robron fans who have missed Robert desperately since Ryan quit.

“Nothing was seen as being too extreme to keep the secret with fake names on scripts, smuggling him in and out of the studios and keeping everything very tight.”

Emmerdale had no comment when contacted by The Sun.

Many viewers had long hoped and predicted that Robert would return.

Here are three clues that hinted at Aaron’s (Danny Miller) former husband coming back.

1. Name drop

Although Robert has been in prison – and therefore absent from the village – viewers picked up he was being mentioned frequently.

Taking to Reddit, a viewer previously wrote: “Do you think robert sugden will come back to Emmerdale soon?

“These last couple episodes theres been A LOT of mentions of him and seb, personally i want him to come back as I’m not a fan of john i feel like his and Aaron’s relationship is forced and its more a friends with benefits type of thing…”

Another penned: “They’ve made lots of references to him over the years, making sure the characters remains part of the Emmerdale story, while other big characters seem to get quickly forgotten.”

A third shared: “That he was seen in that photo with Seb, makes me think it’s possible.

“And if the character was going to return with a recast, then it would have been a different actor in that photo.”

2. Relationship parallels

In recent months, Robert’s ex-husband Aaron has formed a new relationship with village newcomer John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth).

John – who was introduced last summer – is the previously unknown half-brother to Robert and Victoria (Isabel Hodgins).

Soon after his arrival, fans were quick to point out parallels between Robron and Aaron’s new romance with John.

Aaron and John’s first meeting saw the pair have a roadside romp in the latter’s van.

Viewers felt this mirrored Robron’s beginnings, which featured the pair kissing on the roadside – a kiss that sparked a passionate affair and a doomed marriage.

One person wrote: “OK you want Aaron with a new interest but at least try to do new things instead we have to see Aaron have sex with a Sugden who is not Robert in #Robron layby f*** you Emmerdale.”

Another remarked:  “Do you really think that because John is a Sugden and Aaron is a Dingle and they copy and paste an iconic scene from Robron,are they going to have the same popularity as them?

“If so, dedicate yourselves to something else, you didn’t understand anything #Emmerdale”

3. Surprise engagement

Viewers watched as Aaron got engaged to his new partner – following a shock proposal by John.

Around this time, fans discovered some of John’s secrets that he’s hiding – such as his accidental killing of Nate Robinson.

While the soap’s audience are up to speed, Aaron himself remains in the dark.

Now with the couple about to tie the knot, fans started thinking Robert could return to intervene in some way.

Posting on a Facebook page dedicated to Emmerdale, a fan penned: “Aaron and John getting married next month.

“Calling it now this is when Robert comes back.”

Another agreed, writing: “I’ve said this since they got engaged, perfect timing.”

Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and ITVX.