Yahoo News Emmerdale star reveals a dramatic future for Aaron
Emmerdale fans see Aaron Dingle's insecurities come to a head in shocking scenes tonight (January 19) as he brutally beats up Finn Barton's on-off boyfriend Kasim Sabet.
The attack takes place as Aaron interrupts another row between the warring pair, needing an outlet for his own anger after a huge argument of his own with his fiancé Robert Sugden.
So what does it all mean for Robron? And how will the upcoming wedding play out? Danny Miller – who plays Aaron – reveals all here in an in-depth Digital Spy chat...
Aaron's jealousy over Robert and Rebecca is really coming to a head this week. Can you understand why he's become so insecure?
"Well, in a previous interview, I said that I could understand Aaron's insecurities and I think it got misinterpreted. The reason I can understand it is because of Robert's history. Aaron feels that he's finally got this person who he really loves, but now somebody Robert has a lot of history with has turned up and that's thrown a real spanner in the works.
"It's nothing to do with Robert's sexuality whatsoever, just his past and his character. Aaron knows that Robert has cheated in the past, so what's stopping him from now doing it with Rebecca behind Aaron's back? So that's the angle that I meant. I think it got misinterpreted that I was saying Aaron's insecurity is understandable because Robert is bisexual, which is absolutely not what I meant."
The viewers are usually on Aaron's side. Are you worried that could change this week when he beats up Kasim?
"A little bit. But I think you also have to look at the underlying reasons and the situation that Aaron is in. Robert is almost neglecting him, because he's concentrating on the business and Rebecca. When Aaron sees Finn and Kasim having an argument out in the village, he's also just had a big row of his own with Robert.
"Aaron only overhears the back end of a conversation between Finn, Kasim and Kasim's father. He doesn't understand the real meaning behind it. Then he also hears a homophobic comment, which obviously he doesn't agree with whatsoever – and quite rightly so."
What happens next?
"Aaron is in a position where he could just walk away, but we also have to remember that Finn has involved him in this situation in the past. Aaron was actually the first person Finn told about Kasim, so there's a little bit of history there and Aaron feels protective towards him.
"When Kasim's dad turns up and makes the situation worse, it's really hard for Aaron to just move away from it all. He can't control his temper and it all escalates from there."
How bad is the beating? Do we see much of it on screen?
"Given the time of night that Emmerdale is on, it depends how it's been edited. But when we filmed it, it was pretty brutal. It kind of had to be – and I think that will make sense further on down the line.
"Aaron just loses his temper and he finds himself in a dark situation. I do think that the anger management and counselling that he's had in the past has worked for him, but in this situation he's had a drink. That's no excuse, but it flares up his anger even more.
"It's a childish and immature decision that Aaron makes – and he's going to have to pay for it in some way."
Does Aaron regret it afterwards?
"Absolutely. When it happens, it's almost like Kasim isn't actually Kasim – he's just Aaron's punchbag. As much as he'd love to punch Robert for the stuff he's just said to him, deep down I don't think he'd ever lay a hand on Robert.
"I think Aaron is looking for a wall to punch and it's going back to his self-harm issues. But in the end, he doesn't punch a wall – he decides that he's going to punch someone else. So rather than taking out the anger on himself, he's taking it out on another person. The consequences of that are severe, because of his history of being in trouble with the police."
On a happier note, will Robert and Aaron's wedding episodes be worth the wait?
"Like our producer Iain MacLeod said briefly last year, the wedding is very typical of the Dingles and the entire show. I think people will enjoy it, I genuinely do. It's not your typical wedding with slow music and petals being thrown down the aisle. There's also a question of – if or when they get down the aisle – do they actually get to say their vows?
"But they're very strong scripts. There's some particularly strong dialogue in there from Robert and Aaron. I can't say much more than that, except that the wedding is good, it's different and it's very true to the characters. I think if the viewers bear that in mind when they're watching it, then it'll make sense and people will love it."
Would you like the show to explore Robert and Aaron starting their own family at some point?
"Possibly, yeah! I think it would maybe happen a little bit later on down the line, though. I think if you're going to adopt a child or bring a child into a relationship – regardless of sexuality – you need to be in a position where you're calm and peaceful.
"So maybe not right now, but when the issues are sorted over who Robert is, who Aaron is, and who Robert and Aaron are together, then maybe."
Liv keeps them both pretty busy anyway!
"Yeah, they've got Liv and looking after her is stressful enough! She's constantly trying to cause trouble, much like Aaron was when he was younger. I think that's why Liv keeps getting away with it when it comes to Aaron. He can't dictate to her what she should or shouldn't be doing, because he used to misbehave in the same way."
Was it strange to see another actor – Bryan Parry – playing Aaron in Ashley's recent dementia episode?
"Well, I met Bryan very briefly when he was filming and I had a little chat with him. He was a very polite guy and he was very good in the episode. It must have been quite a difficult thing for him to do. The natural thing for an actor to do would be to try to impersonate or mimic the person who usually plays the character.
"But throughout the whole cast that were replaced for that episode –-Doug, Laurel and Chas as well – everybody played it very subtly. There were little things in there that reminded you of the characters, but it was also important that Ashley was never supposed to realise who they were.
"I thought the mannerisms and character choices were spot on from Bryan and he's a very, very talented actor. I think he was fantastic and should be very proud."
Would you like to pop back into the dementia story at some point? We loved your recent scenes with Charlotte Bellamy (Laurel)...
"I'm sure anybody would like to be involved in it, but it's very much a family thing. Laurel, Ashley and their family are in their own bubble and I think that's what makes it more heartbreaking. You know at some point that bubble is going to be burst.
"I knew a while ago that Aaron was going to briefly give Laurel some advice and talk about his past as a carer for Jackson. That was literally the first time I've ever done a scene with Charlotte in the nine years I've been at Emmerdale. It was amazing to be able to work with Charlotte, because she's just so, so good.
"It'd be nice to work with Charlotte and John again, but I can't really see him popping back into it now. Although I don't know what the plans are!"
How does it feel to be up for the Serial Drama Performance prize at the National Television Awards?
"Amazing. I'm really running out of ways to describe how proud I am to be up there and how overwhelmed I am. It's the pinnacle for any soap actor. It's amazing to be up there with Jack [P Shepherd], Lacey [Turner] and Natalie [J Robb]."
Is it weird to be facing off against Natalie – a fellow Emmerdale star?
"Well, it's something that's never really happened for us at Emmerdale before – having two actors up for the same category at the awards. So the two of us being shortlisted puts into perspective just how good Emmerdale has been over the past year.
"It doesn't add any more competition to us, though. If anything, we're both rooting for each other. I know Nat's said in her interviews that she's rooting for me – and I'm rooting for her."
Emmerdale has never won Best Soap at the NTAs before. Could that change this year?
"I think so - we've done it everywhere else. We've had a lot of support at other awards this year, whether from the viewers or from critics on judging panels. The NTAs is the one we've never won before, but we seem to have turned it around over the past year. Hopefully 2017 can be another successful year for us!"
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Thursdays.
Don't forget to vote for your favourite TV shows in this year's National Television Awards! Shortlist voting closes at 12 midday on Wednesday, January 25.
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