Emmerdale viewers were left reeling after a terrifying Friday night episode which saw the villainous John Sugden drug his own sister, Victoria Sugden, in a chilling cliffhanger.
A Sinister Return to the Village
The evil medic, portrayed by actor Oliver Farnworth, made a shock return to the Yorkshire Dales over the Christmas period. His latest act of cruelty unfolded when he broke into Victoria's home. As she walked into her kitchen, she was met by the chilling sight of her brother, who calmly greeted her with a simple "Hello, sis."
Despite Victoria's protests and her desperate plea for her son Harry to be kept safe, John insisted he meant no harm. He declared, "You, and me, Aaron and Harry, we are family, we cannot let anyone come between us." His reassurance quickly turned to menace as he produced a needle, telling a terrified Victoria, "Please, don't be scared. This will not hurt a bit." The episode ended with John advancing towards her, leaving her fate unknown.
A Trail of Destruction
This alarming incident is just the latest in John Sugden's long list of heinous acts. Over the past year, his crimes have included the murder of Nate Robinson and indirectly causing the death of Owen Michaels by leaving him to die. He framed Owen for Nate's murder and nearly killed both himself and his then-husband, Aaron Dingle.
His reign of terror has also seen him drug Chas Dingle, send emails to cancel her wedding, and throw a brick through the window of her pub. His sudden reappearance and immediate targeting of his sister signal that his campaign of fear is far from over.
Fan Fears and 'Corriedale' Crossover Speculation
Reacting on social media, fans expressed deep concern for Victoria and Harry's safety. One viewer on X speculated, "Something tells me that the only reason John wants to take Vic and Harry with them is so he can use them to control Aaron." Another warned, "He has no problems hurting Vic & Harry if his plan fails... the 4 of them will never be safe."
The intense drama is widely believed to be building towards the unprecedented crossover event between Emmerdale and Coronation Street. The one-hour special, titled 'Corriedale', is scheduled to air on Monday 5 January. Bosses have confirmed that John will play a key role, though plot details remain tightly under wraps.
Some fans have questioned the logistics, given Farnworth previously played Andy Carver in Coronation Street, a character killed by Pat Phelan. One asked, "How the hell is John from Emmerdale appearing in Corriedale when he was Andy in Corrie... surely someone's going to recognise him."
In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Oliver Farnworth hinted at a more dangerous John. "I think love ultimately brings him back, and jealousy brings him back," he said. "He feels like he has got far less to lose this time, and so we might see a slightly more dishevelled and unhinged side to John. Not that he can get anymore unhinged, but he's even more unhinged."
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.
