Emmerdale has confirmed that show newcomer John Sugden will make his first appearance next week.

Former Coronation Street star Oliver Farnworth has been cast in the role of John,

who’ll feature in big storylines with Victoria Barton.

The drama begins next week when Eric Pollard’s car breaks down, leaving him worried that he won’t be able to attend an old friend’s funeral.

Victoria kindly offers to drive Eric there and ends up chatting to the bereaved son of the deceased woman.

When the man introduces himself as John Sugden, Victoria is shocked to realise that she could be face-to-face with a long-lost family member.

Eric is forced to admit that John could be Victoria’s half-brother – her dad’s son.

Later, Mackenzie Boyd is working at the garage when he receives a call about a car breakdown nearby. The stranded driver turns out to be John, who’s brought back to the village by Mackenzie.

Victoria is delighted to see John again when she spots him at the garage. However, it doesn’t take long before John’s presence in the village starts to ruffle feathers.

Speaking recently, Oliver commented: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the cast of Emmerdale. The show has such a rich history, and the Sugden family is integral to that. I’m looking forward to bringing my character to life and working with such a talented and dedicated team.”

Emmerdale‘s producer Laura Shaw added: “We are thrilled to have an actor with Oliver’s talent and presence join the Emmerdale family. The Sugdens have always been central to Emmerdale, and introducing a new member opens up exciting possibilities for future storylines. Mysterious John’s arrival will no doubt create a stir in the village for Victoria and the wider community.”

Danny Miller, who plays Aaron Dingle, recently told Digital Spy that his character will feature in scenes alongside John.

He explained: “There’s a Sugden coming in. With the history that Aaron has with Robert, it’ll be interesting to see what happens with them. It’s going to be an interesting few months, which is great.”