In a dramatic twist set to unfold in upcoming Emmerdale episodes, John Sugden’s troubling behavior begins to raise serious red flags, especially where his relationship with Aaron Dingle is concerned. Viewers have watched John evolve from a guarded newcomer to someone deeply entwined in village life—but the facade may be cracking. When John admits to Aaron that he has long-standing control issues, it begs the question: should we be worried for Aaron?

Since his arrival in the village last summer, John has always described himself as a “lone wolf.” Fiercely private and emotionally detached, he refused to let anyone into his life—even pushing away his sister, Victoria Sugden, who tried to reconnect. Slowly, however, John began to soften, forming a connection with Aaron that went from casual to serious. The pair recently announced their engagement, seemingly a sign of how far John had come emotionally.

But recent developments hint that John’s love for Aaron may come with a darker side. His intense need for control was on full display following the death of Anthony Fox. Convinced that Aaron was responsible, John took it upon himself to dispose of Anthony’s body and clean the scene, eliminating any trace of wrongdoing. The extreme steps he took to “protect” Aaron spoke volumes about his emotional state—and his need to manage every aspect of the situation.

Though John apologized for his actions the next day, the moment marked a turning point. He opened up to Aaron about his struggle with control and his past. Aaron, though visibly shaken, chose to accept John’s explanation. However, there’s an undercurrent of secrecy still surrounding John. It’s clear he’s only revealing the parts of himself that he wants Aaron to see. And that secrecy is about to be tested.

As wedding plans move forward, John insists he won’t be inviting anyone—because, according to him, he has no family or friends. His story doesn’t sit right with Victoria, who’s always sensed there’s more to her brother than he lets on. Determined to dig deeper, she decides to track down some of John’s old army mates and invites them to his stag do. Her surprise could end up cracking open everything John has worked so hard to conceal.

How will John react when faces from his past suddenly turn up in Emmerdale? What secrets is he still hiding? Will the calm and collected image he’s carefully crafted fall apart under the pressure?

Producer Laura Shaw teases that viewers will finally get a deeper look into John’s true character. “As his hidden actions are slowly revealed,” she says, “audiences will finally get inside John’s mind and understand the darker complexities behind the man.”

With his past rapidly catching up to him and cracks appearing in his carefully constructed life, one thing’s certain: the wedding might not go as planned—and Aaron may find himself caught in a relationship that’s far more dangerous than he realized.