Ryan Hawley has hinted Robert Sugden may die as he gets ready to leave Emmerdale after five years.

Earlier this year, it was announced the actor would taking a break from the 'dales "for the foreseeable future" the try other projects. He will be leaving later this year, with an insider saying at the time that "fans can expect to see him on screen right up until the end of the year". The details of Robert's exit are being kept pretty tightly under wraps - although we can only imagine he won't be going quietly. Now, the actor has weighed in on the possibility that Robert's exit from the 'dales may be permanent - and how he would feel if his character is, in fact, killed off. Hawley told Metro:

"That’s the choice of the show. Whether you stay or choose to go, you’re at the mercy of the producers, so you can’t have any ill feeling. "It is what it is. If that’s what they do, it’s what they do."

Ryan started on Emmerdale back in 2014, becoming the fourth person to play Robert Sugden. Robert has been through the ringer but it was his relationship with Aaron Dingle (played by Danny Miller) that really earned him viewers' love - and even the cute couple moniker RobRon. Hawley has earned praise for his portrayal, as well as several awards including a Tric Award and a Best Soap Actor gong at the TV Choice Awards.