Emmerdale’s Bradley Riches has revealed what’s in store for his character, Lewis Barton, telling The Mirror: “We are going to learn a lot more about him.”
The actor, who is autistic, has reflected on Lewis’s experiences as an autistic person and how it can affect his mental health.
Speaking about Kammy’s decision to throw a housewarming party in last week’s episode, Riches noted: “Lewis finds it difficult. 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.
“It does make me very proud to play Lewis, and 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.”
Explaining that for Lewis, social situations can be particularly challenging, Riches added: “With autism, you do put a mask on and then when you get home, that is when the meltdown happens.
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“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 to suggest I was enjoying the party, but I felt overwhelmed at times, especially with people I didn’t know. People have sent me messages thanking me, it’s been really lovely.”
In episodes set to air this week, fans will see how Lewis has been impacted by recent experiences, including the party.
During Thursday’s (20 November) instalment, Lewis will find himself overwhelmed by the queue of customers at work, prompting him to rush home while attempting to fight off a panic attack. As a result, a concerned Nicola heads to Dale View, where she finds Lewis struggling.
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“You’ll really feel for Lewis,” reveals our Emmerdale source. “He’s known by all the villagers for his cheeky charm and positive energy, so he wants to maintain that vibe as much as possible.
“But the truth is that, sometimes, things can become too much for him, and one example of that is when the queue builds up at the café. Panic takes over, so he drops what he’s doing and rushes home.”