Emmerdale fans were stunned by the return of Arthur Thomas, who appeared unrecognizable after his travels in Australia. Arthur immediately became embroiled in family drama, confronting his former stepdad Jai Sharma over the stress his actions have caused Arthur's mother, Laurel. Fans took to social media to express their disbelief at Arthur's drastically changed appearance, questioning if it was the same actor. Concurrently, the soap's change in sponsorship from Confused.com to Specsavers sparked mixed reactions among viewers, with many taking to social media to voice their confusion and displeasure. Despite the uproar, Specsavers has expressed excitement about the new partnership, hoping to leverage the platform to raise awareness about eye and hearing health.