When it comes to the new character Kev Townsend, the Emmerdale writers seem to be playing a tricky game.

Kev – who has just been released from prison, has a criminal past and a cold gaze – is making the whole village wary.

But the twist here is: Kev and Robert used to have a secret connection in prison.

In a viral scene on ITVX, Robert was seen sneaking Kev home and whispering: “No one can know you’re here.”

The strange intimacy between them has fans in a frenzy. Some believe they are cellmates helping each other. Others speculate there is something “more” – even a complicated relationship.

What makes Kev dangerous is that he not only knows Robert’s secret, but also wants to use it to manipulate him. He is sick, desperate, but his eyes are still calculating. A behind-the-scenes source revealed: “Kev’s arrival will turn Robert’s world upside down.” Meaning: Kev is a ticking time bomb about to explode in the middle of the Dales.

The sight of Kev stepping out of the shadows, Robert standing frozen, and Vic watching from afar – that could be the highlight of the entire week. And if the predictions are true, Kev will not only be an old friend, but the most dangerous new villain in Emmerdale 2025.