The permanent return of Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) to Emmerdale has been a breath of fresh air, delivering drama, some very on-brand scheming, sibling rivalry and, of course, pining for his ex-husband and soulmate Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller).
Securing villainous half-brother John Sugden’s (Oliver Farnworth) downfall is a top priority on mine, and surely every viewer’s wish-list for Robert.
This, as well as an eventual ‘Robron’ reunion, already feels inevitable; hopefully alongside a comeback for Robert’s young son Sebastian.
But as we welcome a promising new era for Emmerdale’s first family, I have another request: bring Sarah (Katie Hill) back into the fold.
Half Dingle, half Sugden, Sarah has had little to do with her paternal roots for years, and her father Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) went on the run in 2016.
Now, upcoming scenes will throw Sarah back into the orbit of her aunt Victoria (Isabel Hodgins) and uncle Robert.
Major surgery to treat Sarah’s cervical cancer has left her unable to carry a baby – a dream she longs to fulfil before Fanconi anaemia shortens her life. Enter Sarah’s maternal grandmother Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins), who asks Vic to be Sarah’s surrogate.
This sudden turn of events would be far less jarring if the show had ever made a point of bonding Sarah to her Sugden relatives; or even acknowledged their connection these days.
It’s a far cry from the attention to detail we’ve previously seen from Emmerdale.
Let’s rewind, for a moment, to the aftermath of Andy’s exit. When the truth finally came out about the Whites framing him, Sarah actress Katie Hill had just taken over the role as the character battled throat cancer.
Furious that Andy had been forced out of his daughter’s life just as she needed him the most, Victoria’s passionate rant over Sarah’s plight ensured that all branches of the family tree were intertwined.
Compare that to Vic’s recent, notably detached pondering over what Sarah was going through, despite this being her niece who she could check up on at any time; while an irritable Robert tuned out of the entire conversation. At no point did either of them express any real, familial concern and I found that bizarre.
And although it was refreshing to hear Sarah’s ‘Grumpy’ Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) recall Robert and Aaron’s past surrogacy plans when discussing her desire for motherhood, this and any other references linked to Robert are always contained solely to the Dingle history books.
Robert and Victoria might as well be mere acquaintances to Sarah based on what we’ve seen, and it’s time to change that.
There was some potential when John arrived, as Sarah was keen to get to know her long-lost uncle. The cold, distant John dismissed her, and that was simply the end of that.
Twisted killer John has a shelf-life, but Robert, Vic and Sarah are long-standing members of the clan, and the latter’s place within it should not be ignored.
Given the nostalgic throwbacks to the Sugden farming legacy, late matriarch Annie’s (Sheila Mercier) village land, and Andy’s key role in the vocation, we’re really lacking the inclusion of Sarah, who as a mechanic clearly has no issue with getting her hands dirty.
Katie, whose poignant performances have carried Sarah’s current, hard-hitting arc beautifully, also has a talent for witty remarks and deadpan one-liners. I could certainly see the blunt Sarah matching Robert in the sassy stakes; and like him, she has form for secrets and scams. It would be a wasted opportunity if this duo never materialised.
When she’s not being reckless, though, there’s a wise head on Sarah’s shoulders. Who better to nurture that than trusty Victoria? Vic confessed to Robert that she had been lonely, while we know Sarah has felt sidelined by the chaotic Dingles.
The pair have been right under each other’s noses for years and could have supported each other through these troubles, if only they had been given the chance.
Sarah also has cousins in little Harry and the absent Seb. As the show has inexplicably fractured her relationship with mum Debbie (Charley Webb), there’s now room to explore what’s left for Sarah in the village, so I want to see her branch out beyond the extended clan she’s been confined to.
Of course, there’s still a busy time to come for Sarah, as Charity offers to carry her baby after the Victoria debacle. Robert has his own agenda following a sneaky deal with Kim Tate (Claire King) and ongoing suspicions of John.
But there’s no reason why Emmerdale can’t build something between Sarah and her Sugden kin along the way, gaining Victoria as a calming ally for her baby journey or even bringing Sarah’s savviness into the mix to help Robert take John down.
After all, what’s the point of Sarah bearing that famous surname if she’s a stranger to all that it represents?
The Sugdens may be back on form, but Sarah is the one missing ingredient in their big relaunch.
