Emmerdale fans were ecstatic to see John Sugden return for Christmas and his scenes with Kev Townsend have left them asking for more.

Christmas was never going to be a quiet occasion for Emmerdale as the ITV soap teases an explosive start to 2026 when they crossover for the highly-anticipated episode with Coronation Street in the New Year.

In a huge twist for the Dales, John Sugden returned and appeared keen to continue his reign of terror after fleeing from the village in September as his long list of harrowing crimes was exposed.

Clearly still in love with husband Aaron Dingle, John wasn’t pleased to see Aaron and Robert Sugden back together as a couple. They were already on edge when Kev Townsend returned to win back his husband, Robert, but another twist was in store.

A lifeless body appeared and while viewers worried it would be Robert after he momentarily disappeared, it turned out to be Kev who was taken hostage by John.

With both Kev and John desperate to win Aaron and Robert back, the pair were at odds trying to protect their husbands from being killed in the process.

The crossover between the two characters has been long anticipated by fans who hoped they’d have scenes together once it was confirmed that John would be returning to Emmerdale.

Taking to X (formerly known as Twitter), fans admitted they were loving the duo of Kev and Robert, as @cosmictradegy wrote: “i’m obsessed with the high camp of two men who are SEVERELY psychotic acting like the other one is more insane than them and obsessing over their husbands who want nothing to do with them whilst each of their husbands are planning their future together.”

@mr_goodmantash replied: “Honestly it was genius doing this” as @emmerdael2dae penned: “John holding Kev hostage in last night’s Christmas Day episode #Emmerdale came as a big surprise twist. Didn’t think they would ever really cross paths but John is ruthless and absolutely delusional to think he can get Aaron back….”

Another viewer @ryansoapking25 added: “The power struggle between John and Kev is brilliant” as @dalescomfort agreed: “i honestly could happily watch an entire episode of john & kev i really do think chris and oliver are so good together”.

Oliver Farnworth who takes on the role of John recently spoke with the Mirror where he shared: “I think love ultimately brings him back, and jealousy brings him back. 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.”

When it comes to his appearance in Corriedale, he teased: “I think by this point it’s known there are big stunts involved that are filmed at night time.

“It looks stunning. That’s the action part of it, but the human part of it, there’s pathos, there’s classic Corrie and Emmerdale humour, there’s also huge twists. There’s really huge twists and not just one.”