**Warning: Contains major spoilers for the Thursday 8th January 2026 episode of Emmerdale, available now on ITVX and YouTube.**
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Emmerdale has left Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) in a very tricky spot in Thursday's episode after he was blackmailed by Joe Tate (Ned Porteous).
The ITV soap ended Wednesday's episode with Joe not only blackmailing Robert to hand over Butler's Farm for free to him, but also to plant evidence of Celia Daniels' modern slavery operation in the home of her innocent business partner, Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb).
Robert agreed already to comply with handing the farm over, despite soulmate Aaron Dingle's (Danny Miller) anger, but was left horrified at Joe's request to try and frame Moira for Celia's crimes.
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In Thursday's episode, Robert was adamant that he would not frame Moira, but Joe's attempt to force Moira to sell her shares of the farm to the Tates led him to consider this option. Joe also dangled a sweetener of a six-figure sum for Robert's share.
Robert proceeded to leave with the envelope of passports of Celia's trafficked slave workers and struggled with the weight of his dilemma, and did not come clean to Aaron either about what was troubling him.
Later in the episode, Robert decided to comply with Joe's commands and was at the farmhouse ready to plant the passports.
However, Moria returned home and caught a very suspicious-looking Robert, wondering why he was in her home.
Has Robert been rumbled?
Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) continues to scheme to get Butler's Farm in Emmerdale. ITV/YouTube
Producer Laura Shaw said of the story: "The truth about John's death will be revealed, as Victoria's clever deception, making John's death look like suicide, will unravel.
"Evil Joe Tate knows the truth and has damning video evidence which he plans to use to get what he wants from the Sugdens, potentially taking control of Butler's Farm."
She confirmed: "Robert is also in the thick of it, trying to save Victoria by planting evidence."
Lewis is the News and Trends Editor at Radio Times and leads our approach to news, reactive content, and serving audience demands and interests. An obsessive fan of television and film, Lewis is a Nicole Kidman fanatic with a side of passion for science-fiction, art-house cinema and the latest HBO drama. Lewis has a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Film Studies. After working in advertising, Lewis worked at The Mirror for three years in community management and SEO, showbiz, film and television reporting.
