Emmerdale fans gasped as a star returned to the soap with a look so unrecognisable that 'they had to do a double take' on Thursday. 

The latest episode of the ITV programme saw Archie Breckle (Kai Assi) awkwardly walk in on his dad Jai Sharma's (Chris Bisson) secret lover Kerry Wyatt (Laura Norton) admitting to sending him a cheeky picture.

Kerry had her back to the door and thought that she was talking to Jai, but when she realised it was Archie, she shot up from her chair and tried to explain herself. 

As viewers will know, the pair had struck up a secret romance last year and have rekindled recently. 

'What are you talking about?' an intrigued Archie asked and Kerry covered it up by confessing she'd sent a silly picture of a dog to Caleb.

The awkward scene got many viewers talking, but mainly because of how different Archie looks.

Many took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts. 

 'Archie is completely unrecognisable, especially with the long hair! #Emmerdale.'

'#Emmerdale Is that Archie?!?!'

Archie has grown! #Emmerdale.'

'Archie has had another growth spurt ...#emmerdale.'

'It can’t be Archie I refuse to believe it #emmerdale.'

'Archie looks about twenty! #Emmerdale.'

'#emmerdale Archie sprouting up. Suppose it's not surprising as they keep him planted & only let him out for the odd appearance.'

'Damn. Archie has grown up loads.'

According to the Daily Star, another said on a Facebook page: Omg... couldn't believe that was Archie. He already looked grown up last time we saw him, but he's changed so quickly. I recognised his face but still had to check the subtitles to make sure it was actually him.' 

Actor Kai took on the role of Jai and Rachel Breckle's son Archie back in 2019. 

His alter-ego was introduced back in 2012 when cleaner Rachel slept with her boss Jai. 

Rachel wanted to have an abortion, but Jai wanted her to keep their child, so they had to keep the fact that Jai was the father a secret because he was married.

Two years later, Rachel decided to go on the run and then in 2019, Archie's character was reintroduced to our screens after his mum died of an unknown heart condition. 

Adam and Liyana Shahzad played Archie between 2013 to 2015.

Just last month Emmerdale fans gasped 'he has grown up so fast!' after a 'rare sighting' one of the child stars left them open-mouthed. 

Last month saw parents Billy Fletcher (Jay Kontzle) and ex-wife Dawn (Olivia Bromley) chatting about their son Evan (Malachi McKenzie) on the ITV soap. 

The pair, who split last year, welcomed the youngster into the world back in 2023 and he was later diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. 

'Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer. It starts from ​white blood cells​ called lymphocytes in the bone marrow,' according to the Cancer Research website. 

Since his diagnosis, he's been through chemotherapy and lives at Home Farm with his mum Dawn, who had been having a secret affair with Joe Tate (Ned Porteous). 

Evan's health isn't usually spoken about on the show, but last week the former couple agreed that they should tell their family about the success of his treatment. 

After appearing on our screens, one said on X: 'WOW Evan has shot up.' 

'I didn’t even know Evan could walk yet, he was a babe in arms last time we saw him.'

'Finally Evan appears, good news but feel like they have not done much with the storyline.' 

Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.