Emmerdale fans know better than anyone that no secret in the Dales stays buried forever. Yet one storyline continues to haunt viewers long after the credits roll: the explosive revelation surrounding

Lewis Barton’s true parentage — and the painful silence that followed. Now, Bradley Riches, who brings Lewis to life on screen, has finally spoken out, shedding new light

on one of the soap’s most emotionally charged unresolved arcs and reigniting hope that the story is far from over.

When Emmerdale dropped the bombshell that Lewis is the secret son of Kev Townsend, it sent shockwaves through the fandom. The twist instantly redefined Lewis’s past and opened the door to complex questions about identity, belonging, and the damage caused by long-kept secrets. Yet just as viewers braced themselves for an emotional reckoning, Kev abruptly left the village — taking the truth with him.

Kev’s departure was anything but quiet. Humiliated and heartbroken, he fled the Dales after his husband Robert Sugden chose Aaron Dingle over him, a decision that shattered Kev’s already fragile sense of self-worth. Though he had a clear opportunity to tell Lewis the truth before leaving, Kev ultimately chose silence. His exit was laced with unresolved tension, especially after he ominously hinted at revenge against Robert — a threat that many fans believe could foreshadow a dramatic return.

And they’re not alone.

In an exclusive interview on Soap Scoop, the podcast from Inside Soap Magazine, Bradley Riches addressed the unfinished storyline head-on — and his words have only intensified speculation. Asked about Kev’s absence, Bradley didn’t hesitate to express his desire to see the character return.

“I would love for him to come back,” Bradley admitted candidly. Reflecting on the early days of filming alongside Chris Coghill, who plays Kev, Bradley recalled the uncertainty surrounding the character’s reception. “I remember being at the Inside Soap Awards just after I’d done my first block with Chris. Someone asked me on the red carpet, ‘Are people going to like Kev?’ And in my head I was thinking, I’m obsessed with Chris as a person, so I just said, ‘Oh my God, you’re going to fall in love with him.’”

What followed, however, was a reminder of how layered — and divisive — Kev truly is. Bradley laughed as he recalled fans tagging him online, questioning when Kev would become likeable as his darker traits emerged on screen. “People were saying, ‘He’s a bad man at the moment.’ And I was thinking, ‘Oh my God, have I just got cancelled?’” he joked. Still, Bradley was quick to defend his co-star, praising Chris Coghill as both an exceptional actor and an incredible person.

That complexity, Bradley believes, is exactly what makes the Lewis–Kev dynamic so compelling.

In a revealing moment, Bradley shared his personal vision for where the storyline could go — and it’s one fans will instantly fall in love with. He imagined a chaotic but heartfelt future where Kev returns to the village and finds himself navigating fatherhood alongside Nicola and Ross, all trying — and failing — to parent an adult Lewis.

“I had this vision of Nicola, Ross, and Kev all trying to parent Lewis but constantly falling over each other,” Bradley explained. “It would be quite comedic, with Lewis just saying, ‘You’re all mental. I’m an adult — I know what I’m doing.’”

Beneath the humor, however, lies something far more meaningful. Bradley spoke passionately about the emotional resonance of Lewis and Kev’s scenes together, highlighting the subtle but powerful representation embedded in their connection. “With Kev, there’s obviously a neurodivergency there,” he said. “I think that’s where Lewis and Kev really feel seen. They both feel different within the village, but they understand each other’s differences. That’s really cool.”

It’s this shared sense of being outsiders that Bradley believes could form the foundation of a deeply moving father–son bond over time — one built not on perfection, but on understanding. In a village where conformity often reigns, Lewis and Kev’s ability to see and accept each other could become one of Emmerdale’s most quietly powerful relationships.

For now, though, fans are left waiting. Kev remains off-screen, his secrets unresolved, his threat of revenge hanging in the air like a storm cloud over the Dales. Yet Bradley’s comments make one thing clear: the story still has life, and there is strong creative potential waiting to be explored.

Adding to the excitement, viewers will soon see more of Bradley — albeit in a very different setting. Next week, he’ll represent Emmerdale in ITV’s beloved festive tradition, The Big Quiz: Coronation Street vs Emmerdale, airing at 9:00 p.m. on Monday, December 15. The annual showdown is a light-hearted celebration of soap rivalry, and Bradley couldn’t hide his enthusiasm.

“You’re there putting your fists up, giving a bit of fight talk,” he laughed, “but in reality, it’s such a wholesome, fun thing to be part of — especially at Christmas. We love their soap, they love our soap.”

This year’s Emmerdale team boasts an expanded lineup, with Lucy Pargeter (Chas Dingle), Mark Charnock (Marlon Dingle), Shebz Miah (Kamal), and Bradley himself stepping up to represent the Dales. “Last year there were three cast members, but there are four this year,” Bradley noted. “That’s exciting.”

While the quiz offers festive fun, fans know the real drama lies ahead back in the village. With Lewis’s parentage still a secret and Kev’s absence unresolved, the storyline feels like a ticking time bomb. Bradley Riches’ openness has not only reignited fan speculation but also reaffirmed why Emmerdale continues to resonate so deeply: its characters are flawed, its stories unfinished, and its emotional truths painfully real.

As viewers await the next chapter, one thing is certain — the Lewis and Kev story is far from done. And when the truth finally comes out, it promises to change lives in the Dales forever.