Lewis Barton is set to be left 'devastated' as his father Kev Townsend's dark secrets come to light in Emmerdale, according to actor Bradley Riches, who plays Lewis. The revelation comes as Caleb and Ruby Miligan (William Ash and Beth Cordingly) are both seemingly determined to drag Kev back into a life of crime, threatening the reformed armed robber's fresh start with his son.
Kev and Lewis: A Complicated Bond
Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) has quickly become a fan favourite since his arrival in the Dales, with his unique blend of comic timing and dramatic depth. His relationship with Lewis has been a central focus, offering a hopeful and positive side to the character, who previously had a 'complicated' connection with prison husband Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley). Despite some bumps in the road, the father-son duo has won over viewers, and Riches is thrilled with the response.
'People are loving them together and I feel like I love working with Chris and I feel like there's going to be some mischief coming,' Riches told Metro. 'There's going to be some iconic moments which I am absolutely buzzing for.'
Dark Secrets Threaten Fresh Start
However, the laughter may soon stop as Kev's past threatens to catch up with him. Caleb and Ruby Miligan are both seemingly determined to pull Kev back into criminal activities, and Riches warns that Lewis will be heartbroken if Kev relapses.
'Lewis would be heartbroken. Kev saying 'I am a reformed character, I am changing for you'. Lewis will be devastated,' Riches said. 'As much as people think secrets will be a secret forever, they always come out. But if he needs to do this dodgy stuff, as long as it's not harming anyone else, Kev is quite experienced in dodgy deals so Lewis might turn a blind eye. I doubt that would happen, as Lewis is very set on his morals. He would be upset because this is meant to be a fresh start.'
Highs and Lows Ahead
Riches promises a rollercoaster of emotions for the pair in the coming weeks, with 'highs and lows, some dramas, some fights.' He explained that just as Lewis starts to process something, something else happens, sending them back to square one.
'In the coming weeks you see Kev and Lewis bond because there's some hard stuff coming up,' Riches teased. 'Lewis thought things were going to be perfect but nothing is as perfect as it seems. The Barton family come together and support each other, which is really nice.'
Kev's Unpredictable Nature
Despite the challenges, Riches believes Lewis will never fully get the measure of his dad, describing Kev as 'such an unpredictable character.' He added: 'Even in the next scenes coming up, you think things are calming down, then Kev listens to one thing Lewis says and goes 'I am going to make this happen for my son'. It's all from a place of love. Lewis goes 'Oh god I shouldn't have said that.' Because Kev is going to run with it and do stupid things.'
Riches concluded: 'He's going to learn to love it. A bit like how Ross learned to love Lewis. It's just Kev being Kev. Which is just a really nice thing.'
