The entire Emmerdale village was shocked when the news that Andy Sugden – the one-time hero – was suddenly confirmed “not to return”.

Kelvin Fletcher, the actor who played Andy for more than 20 years, officially spoke out: “I think Andy’s journey has ended.”

A short sentence, but left the fan community stunned.

Anyone who has followed Emmerdale must remember the years when Andy Sugden bore the village’s tragedy – from his love affair with Katie, to being falsely accused of murder and having to flee.

Andy is the type of “barefoot, wide-eyed” character who becomes a hero, representing the indomitable spirit of the Dales. Therefore, when Kelvin confirmed that he would not return, fans felt like they had just lost a piece of the series’ soul.

However, the Emmerdale scriptwriters have never made it easy for the audience to guess. Although Andy “is not coming back”, his name has started to be mentioned again in recent episodes – through Victoria Sugden and Robert. Many believe that this is the beginning of a surprise twist. Is Andy still alive and will appear at the most chaotic time of Emmerdale? Or is he just a “ghost” that the writers are using to remind Robert of his sins?

If the script stays true to tradition, Andy can “reappear” without appearing – like a letter, a video, or a rumor that drives the whole village crazy. A “dead hero” suddenly becomes the biggest mystery of the year. And if Andy is really alive, this car-turn will definitely be the explosion that will drag Robert back to the sin zone.