The ITV soap featured some incredibly harrowing storylines in its latest episode, as Moira Barton (played by Natalie J. Robb) finally confessed the truth about killing Emma Barton (Gillian Kearney) to her grieving son Ross (Michael Parr).
Yet it was another scene that saw Robert (Ryan Hawley) struggling to look after his newborn baby that had fans truly concerned.
Following a series of unfortunate setbacks that saw the infant proceed to vomit and defecate on Robert’s clothes, the character took his top off and held Seb against him in exasperation.
But it wasn’t long until the action caused eagle-eyed viewers to notice that the “baby” was just a doll.
Taking to Twitter, fans expressed their feelings on the matter.
One person asked: “Was that a fake baby he was holding in #emmerdale? Because who the f**k holds a baby like that?”
“Oh my days Robert with Seb, but WHY is he literally holding the sprog by his head and nothing else #emmerdale,” another baffled fan exclaimed.
A third joined in: “Who spotted the life like baby doll Robert was holding?”
“At least get a baby doll that moves… Nice body on Robert mind #emmerdale,” a fourth agreed.
Those at home continued to discuss the scenes, as another one depicted an even closer-up image of the apparent model.
“Was that Tiny Tears Robert was just holding then #Emmerdale,” one person wondered, followed by: “The life-like doll. My mother said thats not a real baby he’s holding. Wasn’t moving.”
Meanwhile, Robert’s sister Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) was bewildered to find him standing stock-still holding the baby when she came round to his house.
“You know you’re allowed to move,” a stunned Victoria announced.
“He doesn’t like it,” Robert replied.
Unwilling to give up, the concerned sister continued: “And you’re allowed to wear clothes. How long have you been stood like this?”
Clearly struggling with the notion that his role as a father might become all-encompassing if Seb’s mother Rebecca White (Emily Head) doesn’t wake up from her coma, Robert then insisted: “I don’t know anything except Rebecca’s gonna get better, she has to.”
