Emmerdale: Shock Twist as Aaron Encounters New Sugden

Emmerdale viewers were left reeling after Wednesday's episode delivered a surprise twist for Aaron Dingle, involving the newly introduced John Sugden.

The soap had previously announced that actor Oliver Farnworth would be joining the cast as a member of the Sugden family, but John's identity was initially kept under wraps. The episode opened with Aaron confiding in his best mate Mackenzie about a planned date, although he refused to divulge his companion's name.

Later, Aaron admitted to Mackenzie that he was meeting someone for a casual encounter at a hotel but was short of a vehicle. He persuaded Mackenzie to let him borrow Eric Pollard's car, which was currently undergoing repairs at the garage.

As Aaron headed towards his rendezvous, he spotted a stranded motorist by the roadside. This turned out to be none other than the newly arrived John Sugden. After Aaron managed to fix John's van, the pair decided to abandon the planned hotel hook-up and engage in a spontaneous encounter in the back of the van.

Subsequently, Aaron suggested they meet again the following day, but John declined. When Aaron stepped out to relieve himself, John made a swift exit, taking Aaron's keys and wallet with him.

This left Aaron and Mackenzie in a predicament, as they were forced to wait for a locksmith to retrieve Eric's car.

Long-time Emmerdale viewers may have recognised the similarities between John and Aaron's roadside encounter and the first meeting between Aaron and Robert Sugden.

Back in 2014, Robert had orchestrated a fake roadside emergency to lure Aaron into a meeting. The pair ultimately shared their first kiss on that day – a significant moment rendered even more awkward considering the fact that Robert and John are half-brothers.

The question now arises: How will Aaron react upon discovering John's true identity?

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1 and is available for streaming on ITVX.