Emmerdale star's shock marriage U-turn as they're told 'you can't do that
Bradley Riches, who has joined the cast of Emmerdale as Lewis Barton, opens up about his role on the ITV soap and how he is counting down the days until he marries Scott Johnston
Heartstopper actor Bradley Riches is about to embark on a new chapter of his career – by joining one of the biggest soaps in Britain. Making his Emmerdale debut on Monday as Lewis Barton, Bradley will be introduced to a whole new audience and, as he exclusively tells OK!, he cannot wait.
The 23-year-old is set to marry fiancé Scott Johnston next year, after a romantic proposal from Scott in Sorrento in Italy last April. Here, Bradley opens up about why they've had to change their original wedding plans - and how 'surreal' it is hanging out with the telly icons he grew up with while watching the soap with his grandad…
Hi, Bradley! How are wedding plans with Scott going?
We've got the venue – a lovely English manor house for next April. Fun fact – we were considering getting married in Italy, as that's where we got engaged last year and we'd found a beautiful location. But we looked into it and discovered same-sex couples can't get married in Italy, which I wasn't aware of. So those plans were quickly discarded.
You'll have lots of famous faces you need to invite…
Oh I know – my Heartstopper crew, my friends from Celebrity Big Brother and I'll probably end up inviting the whole Emmerdale cast. I'll have been filming for over a year by then. So, yes, we'll definitely need to expand the guest list.
Why do you and Scott work so well together?
We're both creative, determined – but personality-wise, so different. He's to the point, with a brilliantly dry sense of humour. He'll say something important in five minutes, whereas I could waffle on about total garbage for an hour.
Congratulations on joining the cast of Emmerdale!
It's such an 'Oh my God!' moment. It was my grandad Peter's favourite soap. I've always had a special connection with Emmerdale. Maybe it was his parting gift. He'd have been buzzing. I went to a performing arts college called Emil Dale and when my parents told him I'd got into Emil Dale, he was like, 'What? When will he be on TV?' It feels like it was meant to happen.
Tell us about your character…
I'm playing Lewis Barton – I'm a Barton boy. My mum was Emma Barton. Ross and I share the same mum. Emma was killed some years ago by Moira Dingle, who is like a second mum to Ross. I reach out to him to say I'd love to meet him and know more about my mum. But when we meet, we don't see eye to eye. I'm very to-the-point and have a thousand questions I want answered, which scares Ross. So they really don't create that brotherly bond and I leave. Obviously, I return! For Lewis, expect the unexpected – he's got a few secrets up his sleeve.
Have the other cast members been welcoming?
Oh, they really have, it feels like a nice family. There are so many icons on this show. To bump into them on set is just surreal. I've got a special bond with Mike [Michael Parr, who plays Ross]. My first five weeks were just us two together. We're like brothers – he's very protective of me. He says, 'You're under my wing now!' which is so sweet. When my role was announced, some people were a bit negative and he was like, 'Nah, this is not happening.' As time goes on I've met others, like Lisa Riley. We haven't filmed together yet but we're always in make-up together. She plays the best music and she's such a fun, happy person to be around.
How do you feel about the negative reactions there have been to your casting?
In this industry, you've always got to expect that, which is sad to say. Me being my true and authentic self, some people aren't going to like that. I knew it was going to happen – a happy, gay, autistic person being delighted about getting a new job. Of course, someone will find the negative within that. But it was drowned out by loads of positivity. I'm having a bloody amazing time. Nobody's going to dampen this experience for me.
Were you nervous walking on to such a famous set?
I was so nervous. My first day was filming in the Dingles' house. To be on that iconic set that I've seen for years, it really hit home. It was also strange filming things out of synch at first – I wish I'd filmed Lewis and Ross's first meeting [on the first day]. Lewis and Bradley's nerves could have blended into one. We were in a car to take us to the location for our first scene and as soon as the driver set off, I spilt my coffee down my costume. I thought the costume people were going to be mad and they were so lovely. That dispelled the nerves.
You won't be able to buy milk soon without someone asking for a selfie…
Ha, I think it's great that I'll be introduced to a whole new demographic following Heartstopper, who have probably not seen me on-screen before. That is weird. After Celebrity Big Brother, I remember a builder stopped and said, 'Ah you're Bradley – I really wanted you to win.' Reaching new audiences is nerve-wracking but exciting too.
How different was this year's series to your time on Celebrity Big Brother last year?
Very different. Maybe we were having too much fun – there wasn't that same level of drama. Our series, there were obvious, great friendships – this season I couldn't work out who were good friends or not. Chris [Hughes] and JoJo [Siwa] had that bond, but none of the others were so obvious. It was very entertaining though.
How did you feel about Mickey Rourke?
Seeing his conversation with JoJo, the homophobia, I was thinking, how has this man not been thrown out? Horrid. But I do think, if he hadn't left, he'd have embarked on quite a learning curve. He was even asking what pronouns he needed to use for Danny Beard. It could have opened his eyes. But he let himself down.
Do you have any burning ambitions?
I'm learning so much on Emmerdale and it's so fast-paced, I'm happy to be doing this. I'd love to do Strictly one day, though!
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