From Dylan to Lewis: Bradley Riches' Emmerdale Journey
Bradley Riches, who plays Lewis Barton in the ITV soap Emmerdale, has shared a fascinating insight into his casting, revealing he was initially invited to audition for a completely different character. In an interview published on November 19, 2025, the actor explained that the show's casting director first contacted him about the role of Dylan, but scheduling conflicts with a pantomime commitment meant it wasn't possible.
Shortly after this, the opportunity arose for him to audition for the part of Lewis Barton, the secret son of Emma Barton, which ultimately led to his current role in the popular Yorkshire-based drama.
Lewis Barton's Dramatic Storyline Unfolds
Bradley's character, Lewis Barton, arrived in the village earlier this year, having first made contact by writing letters to Moira Dingle, played by Natalie J Robb, and Ross Barton, portrayed by Michael Parr. His arrival revealed he was the previously unknown son of Emma Barton.
The storyline saw Ross initially meeting with Lewis but becoming overwhelmed by his constant questioning about Emma and her life in Emmerdale. Ross was keen to keep Lewis in the dark about his mother's villainous past and the fact that Moira had killed her by pushing her from a viaduct.
As time passed, Lewis began to suspect his new brother was hiding something and eventually uncovered the truth about Emma's fate. His initial reaction was to go to the police, but defensive Ross pointed out they were unlikely to believe him. Ross even threatened to tell authorities that Lewis was growing cannabis if they investigated his claims about Moira.
After a falling out with Ross, Lewis temporarily left the village, only to return when his landlord threw him out for growing weed. The siblings have since reconciled and moved into Tall Trees together, and are now living with Vinny Dingle, played by Bradley Johnson, at Dale View.
Breaking Barriers in Autism Representation
In a powerful and personal discussion, Bradley Riches, who is autistic himself, spoke about the importance of his character's neurodivergence. Lewis Barton is an autistic character, and the actor is incredibly proud to be playing a role that helps raise awareness and challenge misconceptions.
'There was never anyone like me when I was growing up on TV', Bradley told the Mirror. 'I hope by exploring this character more, we can kill off misconceptions that being autistic is negative. It isn't.'
He shared details about his own childhood, revealing he didn't speak until he was nine years old when he received his diagnosis. 'Up until then, I was in my own little bubble at home playing with Lego and communicating via cards on the wall. If I wanted a different pair of socks, for instance, I would whack the socks on the wall', he explained.
His unique communication style involved tapping things through sounds, actions, or by pointing to colours. Looking back, he believes his silence stemmed from being comfortable in his home setting and thinking his way of communicating was normal.
This week, viewers will see Lewis open up more about his autism as he struggles in the aftermath of a housewarming party. Bradley emphasised his pride in bringing authenticity to the role, stating: '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.'
Future Drama and Family Connections
The drama surrounding Lewis's parentage continues to unfold. Recently, criminal Kev Townsend, played by Chris Coghill, was speaking to Liam Cavanagh about a one-night stand he had with a woman called Emma, resulting in the birth of his son. Currently, Kev remains oblivious that Lewis is his child, setting the stage for future explosive revelations in the village.
