John Sugden is about to make his long-awaited Emmerdale debut, but it appears not all of the villagers will welcome his arrival.
Actor Oliver Farnworth – who previously played Coronation Street’s Andy Carver – has revealed the character is set to ruffle quite a few feathers, admitting the mysterious newcomer is ‘not out to win people over’.
While the Sugdens have been part of Emmerdale since its inception, John is a family member that villagers and viewers alike never knew existed, due to an off-screen liaison between his mother Barbara and Dales icon Jack Sugden (Clive Hornby) back in the 1980s.
And while Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) is delighted to find out she has a new half-brother, John soon finds himself making enemies.
Describing his character in an interview, Oliver reveals: ‘He doesn’t see himself as above Emmerdale, the village or the people, but he just is disassociated completely. So he won’t think twice about telling someone what he thinks.
‘He’s not trying to make friends. He’s not out to win people over.
‘There’s a few occasions where he’s very direct with people that might not like that, but he doesn’t really care, because he just sees this as a stopgap, and then he’s on to the next thing.’
Oliver admits that John is initially somewhat of an enigma, and he himself is ‘still finding stuff out’ about him, weeks after filming his first scenes.
‘He is very much a lone wolf,’ Oliver explains. ‘I think over the years, he’s really put walls up and not let anyone in. And that’s the kind of method of self-preservation, I think. So, he doesn’t like people getting close to him.
‘We find out that he’s very self-sufficient. He lives off-grid in his van. Doesn’t need anyone, doesn’t need family. But then you know, through a set of circumstances he’s thrown into Emmerdale, realises that he does have family, and he’s not interested.’
He adds: ‘I think ultimately, he is a good guy, he’s an honest guy. But, yeah, he does have baggage, let’s say. Past damage that may influence his behaviour.’
Emmerdale airs John Sudgen’s arrival on Thursday 8 August at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
