Emmerdale’s Robert Sugden made contact with a villager it seems on the ITV soap amid concern for his son Seb White following the death of his mother Rebecca White

Emmerdale aired the mention of a number of past characters this week including Robert Sugden and Seb White.

But how are the characters linked and will they return to the ITV soap? There was shocking news following Ross Barton’s comeback after six years this week.

Mike Parr has reprised the role after his exit back in 2018. Ross and Rebecca moved away with young Seb to have a fresh start away from the village.

Since then, Robert Sugden has left the village too with him sent to prison over the death of Lee Posner in 2019. Still in the village is Robert’s sister Victoria Sugden and his ex-husband Aaron Dingle, as well as his new secret brother John Sugden.

Viewers have long suspected a return for Robert following Aaron’s comeback last year, as well as John’s arrival. But how exactly is Robert linked to Rebecca and Seb, and will any of the characters return soon?

Rebecca was confirmed to have died by her ex Ross this week, with him revealing Seb now lives with Rebecca’s aunt. But viewers are sure Seb will soon head back to the village.

Seb is the son of Robert and Rebecca. Robert helped raise Seb when they were in the village, before being saddened by his exit in 2018.

Emmerdale aired the mention of a number of past characters this week including Robert Sugden and Seb White (Image: Daily Mirror)

While he stayed in touch with Rebecca and Seb, he went to prison a year later and appeared to cut off all contact with his family and loved ones. It’s not clear if Rebecca or Seb spoke with Robert over the past five or six years, but Robert didn’t see him much it seems.

As revealed in Thursday’s episode that dropped early on ITV X, Robert does know about Rebecca’s death as confirmed by Ross. He knows that Seb now lives with the aunt, and actually agreed for this to happen.

Ross told a shocked Victoria that Robert signed the papers to give the aunt the right to care for Seb, instead of him returning to the village. So it seems for now Seb won’t be back, but might that change?

More so, could Robert make a comeback like fans have hoped for? There are currently no plans for Ryan Hawley to reprise his role from what we know, with Robert also not returning.

But that doesn’t mean it will never happen given Aaron actor Danny Miller previously admitting he wants his co-star to make a comeback. There’s constant rumours too, but for now this will not be happening. It also seems Rebecca really is dead, so she too won’t be making an appearance.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.