Emmerdale spoilers: Killer John changes tactic before 'downfall' amid another exit

John Sugden could be about to change his agenda on Emmerdale amid him targeting his brother Robert Sugden. As it stands, Robert is the only one really onto killer John and his dark secrets.

But given John is now married to Robert's ex-husband Aaron Dingle, poor Robert's being accused of jealousy. He's actually pretty rattled, after realising months ago that there was something not quite right with his secret sibling.

Not only did a threat and some "obsessive" and "creepy" behaviour leave him convinced John was hiding something sinister, but in recent weeks he's come to the conclusion that he could be a killer too - amid fans spotting a clue that a downfall is on the cards. It comes as Robert learned for a fact that Owen did not kill Nate Robinson, and given John was at his house before his "suicide" it's all starting to piece together.

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He's convinced John has to have killed Nate, or at least that it's likely, knowing Owen has been set up. So to find out John has been somewhat of a hero for months, saving Chas after she was drugged with her own medication as well as rescuing Jacob Gallagher after an allergic reaction, Robert is sure he's onto something.

Viewers know John has orchestrated many of these events and more to be the village saviour. No one's noticed how odd it is that John is always there at the right time, or the wrong time. No one, except for Robert of course. All this has done though is make Robert a target.

But spoilers for next week seem to allude to John taking a different approach, just days on from him getting dirt on the character and trying to expose him. So as it stands, John is spying on Robert via a listening device he's planted in the house.

We've seen him listen into his chat with Liam Cavanagh, where he made it clear he would find out what John is hiding and exposing him. John panicked to hear Robert was well and truly onto him, while he soon got another shock when he heard Robert chatting with new villain Ray.

It's then that he heard about their secret drug deal, and the fact Robert had stolen Lewis Barton's weed from the farm and sold it to Ray. This is why Ray had two masked intruders head to the farm this week, causing drama with Kyle and Moira.

In an upcoming episode we see John seemingly spilling the beans to Ross, Lewis' brother, about his deceit. John is keen to destroy his brother, taking different approaches to do this.

But just days later, it seems John is either having a change of heart or a change of action. In scenes next week we see him persuading Aaron to go easy on Robert, and to not give him a hard time.

So why would John want people to be nice to Robert? Surely it can't just be to make himself look good, we've gone beyond that with their feud and at any moment, a relentless Robert could find what he needs to expose John.

Perhaps it's to wind Robert up more with his fake kindness and with villagers, against Robert, inevitably telling him how it's "amazing" John who has encouraged them to be nice to him. So yes it could be to tear Robert down and make him look worse, or maybe he really has had a change of heart and feels bad for him.

Unlikely, so what if it's part of his big plan for his brother? We know he wants him out of the way, no doubt more so now that he's actually onto him, and onto his crimes. Whatever the motive, it's clear John is changing tactic.

Elsewhere, away from the John plot, there's hints of an exit plot next week, ahead of a confirmed departure. Steph Miligan will be leaving the ITV soap soon for some time away, with actress Georgia Jay on maternity leave.

Next week Steph and Ross give their romance another go, but it seems his fling with Manpreet Sharma could be exposed despite his claims there's been no one else. So is this what leads to Steph abruptly leaving the village?

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , and Threads.