Emmerdale’s Bradley Riches Teases Major Turning Point for Lewis as Groundbreaking Scenes Air
Emmerdale’s Bradley Riches has confirmed that far deeper, more emotional layers of his character Lewis Barton will be explored in upcoming episodes — with scenes that promise to be some of the soap’s most sensitive and groundbreaking depictions of autism to date.
Riches, who is autistic himself, spoke candidly to The Mirror about how Lewis’s experiences mirror his own, and why the next chapter of the storyline will resonate strongly with viewers.
“We Are Going to Learn a Lot More About Him”
Lewis’s struggles quietly escalated over recent weeks, culminating in last week’s stressful housewarming party thrown by Kammy. While outwardly sociable, Lewis quickly became overwhelmed — a moment Riches says reflects a universal truth for many autistic people.
“Lewis finds it difficult,” he explained. “He is a people’s person and comes across as happy. But not everything is as it seems, and we are going to explore this more in the soap.”
Riches added that portraying an autistic character authentically is both meaningful and personal. “It does make me very proud to play Lewis. I like to bring a bit of me to the character to educate people who may never have been exposed to an autistic person before. Having him on screen is a really cool thing to be part of.”
Masking, Meltdowns and Mental Health Impact
One of the key areas the storyline is now focusing on is emotional masking — when autistic people hide their stress or discomfort in order to fit into social environments.
“With autism, you do put a mask on and then when you get home, that is when the meltdown happens,” Riches said. “Lewis and I are very similar in social situations. I can remember saying ‘yes’ to parties and then two hours later ringing Mum to pick me up. I’d put a façade on, but I felt overwhelmed at times, especially with people I didn’t know.”
Fans have been sending messages of support, thanking Riches for portraying these realities with honesty and depth.
This Week: Lewis Reaches Breaking Point
The upcoming episodes will show the emotional fallout from the party as Lewis reaches a crisis point.
During Thursday’s (20 November) instalment, Lewis becomes overwhelmed by a long queue of customers at the café. Panic quickly overtakes him, and he abruptly abandons his shift, rushing home to fight off a panic attack.
A worried Nicola, sensing something is deeply wrong, follows him to Dale View — and finds Lewis in a highly distressed state.
“You’ll really feel for Lewis,” an Emmerdale insider reveals. “He’s known by the villagers for his cheeky charm and positive energy, so he wants to maintain that vibe. But the truth is that sometimes things become too much for him. The café queue is one of those moments. Panic wins, and he runs.”
A Storyline That Is Changing Perceptions
As Emmerdale continues to shine a spotlight on Lewis’s inner world, fans can expect more emotional, nuanced episodes that emphasise understanding, support, and the importance of representation.
Riches promises this is only the beginning — and that Lewis’s journey will be one of the most powerful arcs on the soap this month.