Aaron Dingle
Aaron Dingle is a fictional character from the British soap opera Emmerdale, played by Danny Miller. The character was originally played by Danny Webb and appeared in a recurring capacity. Aaron made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 24 December 2003. When Aaron was reintroduced in 2008, he was promoted to the full-time cast and the decision was made to recast the role. Miller successfully auditioned for the part and later admitted that he would have quit acting if he had not been cast.
Aaron is the son of Chas Dingle and Gordon Livesy. His storylines have included being involved with the criminal McFarlane family, making a romantic advance towards his best friend Adam Barton which resulted in attempted suicide, coming to terms with his homosexuality, his relationship with Jackson Walsh, and dealing with Jackson's suicide. Miller chose to leave the show in November 2011 and he made his final appearance on 5 April 2012. Aaron's exit storyline saw him accused of arson and so he left the village with his new partner Ed Roberts.
Two years later, Miller reprised the role and Aaron returned on 14 August 2014, as part of a heist storyline involving Donna Windsor and Ross Barton. The character's most notable storylines since his return have been his affair and subsequent relationship with Robert Sugden, his role in Katie Sugden's death, self-harming, revealing that he was sexually abused by his father Gordon when he was a child which made him attempt suicide once more, reuniting with his estranged half-sister Liv Flaherty and becoming her guardian, being sent to prison for grievous bodily harm, and breaking up and reuniting with Robert, playing a part in raising his son, and marrying him. In November 2021, it was announced that Miller would be competing in the ITV series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and that he would be leaving Emmerdale once again and Aaron departed on 6 December 2021. However, the following year, Miller returned to the role of Aaron for a guest stint on 3 October 2022 to celebrate Emmerdales 50th anniversary with Aaron departing once again on 31 October 2022. Miller made an unannounced return on 9 October 2023, revealed to be his uncles Cain and Caleb Miligan 's hostage at Wylies Farm.
Storylines
2003–2006
When Aaron was young, his parents, Gordon Livesy and Chas Dingle, separated and Chas left her son to live with his father and Gordon's second wife, Sandra. Aaron visits his mother in Emmerdale, where he tells her that he resents her for not raising him and explains that he feels that she abandoned him. The two begin to bond, before Aaron returns home to his father. Aaron returns to visit Chas, but she reprimands him after she catches him talking to other people about her behind her back.Louise Appleton witnesses Chas slapping Aaron and tells Gordon when he arrives to collect his son. Gordon tells Chas that her relationship with her son is over and that Aaron will not visit her again. Despite this, Aaron returns to Emmerdale several months later, staying longer than expected as he came into contact with a person who had German measles and Sandra was pregnant. Aaron returns home to his father and his stepmother, after telling Chas that while she was in the Army, her partner Carl King had a one-night stand with her cousin, Del Dingle.
2008–2012
Aaron returns to the village two years later and is arrested by Ross Kirk for possession of drugs. He is cautioned then meets his mother but later runs away after Chas takes him home. Gordon reveals that he threw Aaron out for hitting Sandra, Chas' family learn that he is a drug courier for the McFarlanes and they bring him to Emmerdale after Gordon refuses to take him back.Aaron clashes with Victoria Sugden but they eventually become friends and Aaron helps rescue her when she falls into a frozen lake. Aaron convinces his cousin, Belle Dingle, to take the day off school and is also caught stealing so Lisa throws him out. Consequently, he and Chas move into Smithy Cottage with Paddy Kirk and Chas gives him the choice of going to college or getting a job so he gets a job at Cain's garage. Aaron begins dating Victoria and loses his virginity to her but they break up when he discovers her relationship with her foster brother, Daz Eden. When Aaron ignites a bale of hay at the Bartons' farm Holly's father, John, hits him and locks him in a stable. Aaron reports John to the police but later drops the charges.
Aaron discovers that Chas has resumed her relationship with Carl and he tells her that he wants nothing more to do with her. He refuses to move in with her and Carl and, after much convincing, gets Paddy to agree to let him stay with him. In anger over his mother's new relationship, he tampers with the brakes on Carl's car, but when he realises that Jimmy and Nicola King are driving it with their infant daughter, he stops them and fixes it. When Chas finds out, she angrily tells him that she does not want anything to do with him anymore. After this, Aaron slowly starts to change into a better person. Despite Paddy's initial annoyance at his presence, the two form a close father-son relationship.
Aaron begins dating Holly Barton and makes friends with her brother, Adam. After Aaron and Adam are involved in a run-off-road collision, Aaron tries to kiss Adam. Aaron is embarrassed and tells Adam that he misunderstood the situation. Aaron sleeps with Holly and Adam tells his family that he thinks Aaron is gay. Adam tells Aaron that he is fine with him being gay but he does not want his sister to be used. Aaron denies it but Holly ends their relationship.
Aaron visits a gay bar and meets Jackson Walsh, he leaves his phone behind and Jackson returns it. Aaron returns to the bar to meet Jackson. When Paddy discovers that Aaron has visited a gay bar, he asks if Aaron is gay, only for Aaron to violently attack him. Aaron apologizes and admits that he is gay but rejects his sexuality. Jackson comes to the village to talk to Aaron. They go to kiss but are interrupted. After a night out at the bar Jackson and Aaron eventually kiss. Jackson comes to The Woolpack and when he touches Aaron's arm, Aaron punches him. Aaron is charged with ABH and told that he will stand trial. Aaron tries to kill himself at the garage but his uncle, Cain Dingle, and Adam find him in time. During his court case Aaron admits that he hit Jackson because he himself is gay and struggling with this situation, Aaron is sentenced to community service. He meets Wayne Dobson who taunts him about his sexuality, back in the village Jackson witnesses this and sticks up for Aaron. After talking things through, Aaron and Jackson start dating.
Aaron sells a clocked car to Mickey Hall. Aaron uses his dog, Clyde, to try to intimidate Mickey but Mickey sets his own dog on Clyde, seriously injuring him, so Clyde had to be put down. Jackson and Aaron argue and Jackson tells Aaron that he loves him. Aaron thinks things are becoming too serious and the pair do not talk for days. Aaron and Jackson invite Paddy and Marlon Dingle on a night out. Jackson is hurt when Aaron does not say he loves him too and after realising that Aaron will not change his violent tendencies, Jackson drives off. Aaron tries to phone him and later finds Jackson has crashed his van onto a railway and has been hit by a train. Jackson is permanently paralysed from the neck down and Aaron tells him that he will not walk again as Jackson's mother, Hazel Rhodes, cannot do it. Jackson blames Aaron for the crash and they break up, Aaron refuses to see Jackson, even when Hazel asks him to.
Aaron and Jackson get back together and Aaron helps Jackson and Hazel move into Dale Head. Jackson's mood starts to deteriorate and he pushes Aaron away. Aaron meets Flynn Buchanan and he feels like he is cheating on Jackson. Aaron tells Flynn about Jackson and that he cannot forget about him. Aaron then tells Jackson that he loves him. Aaron watches Jackson's video diary and is shocked to hear Jackson admit that he wants to die, he tells Hazel and they try to work out how to help Jackson. Aaron confesses to Jackson that both he and Hazel have watched his video diary. Aaron and Hazel then become determined to show Jackson that he has a life worth living. Jackson is admitted to hospital with a chest infection and it strengthens his resolve to end his life. Jackson, Aaron and Hazel go to Whitby and Aaron books Jackson on a tandem skydive. Aaron thinks Jackson has changed his mind about dying, but he has not. Aaron is shocked to learn that Jackson has managed to convince Hazel to help him end his life. Jackson later promises Aaron that nothing is going to happen until Aaron is ready. Jackson breaks up with Aaron to make the process easier and Aaron agrees to help Jackson end his life. Jackson tells his mother and Aaron how grateful he is for their support and – when Hazel cannot give Jackson the pills – Aaron takes the cup and gives it to Jackson. Jackson then dies and Aaron runs through the village. He then tells Adam about Jackson's death and his part in it.
The police investigate Jackson's death and arrest Aaron for murder. Aaron is forced to miss the funeral as he is due in court. He is released on bail and he goes to Jackson's grave to say goodbye. At his trial, Aaron is found not guilty of murder. However, Aaron blames himself for Jackson's death and starts lashing out at people. Aaron breaks into Carl's house with the intention of getting arrested, but Carl does not press charges. Aaron moves into The Woolpack with Chas and begins self-harming. During a drive Aaron starts speeding and crashes the car, Chas suffers minor injuries. When Sean Spencer steals money from the garage Aaron chases after him then collapses. When he recovers Chas tries to get him to open up to her about his problems, later she catches Aaron self-harming and he starts attending counselling sessions. He also takes a break from the village for a while.
Aaron meets Ed Roberts when he brings a minibus to the garage to be fixed and they slowly begin a relationship. Ed tells Aaron that he has been signed for a French rugby club and is leaving for France in four weeks. He asks Aaron to come with him but he turns him down. Aaron later spots a fire in the garage and helps Adam save Cain, who had become trapped. Aaron then learns Adam deliberately started the fire and, not wanting his friend to be sent to prison, tells the police that he was responsible for the fire. He is released on bail but on the day of his court hearing, Aaron goes to France with Ed.