Emmerdale Star Bradley Riches Unveils Star-Studded Wedding Guest List
Emmerdale actor Bradley Riches has excitedly disclosed the array of famous faces set to attend his wedding later this month. The star, renowned for his role as Lewis Barton on the ITV soap, is preparing to marry his partner, Scott Johnston, in just ten days. The couple became engaged in early 2024, shortly after Bradley's participation in Celebrity Big Brother, where he secured sixth place.
A Romantic Proposal and Upcoming Nuptials
Following his engagement, Bradley took to social media to share heartfelt moments from the proposal. He posted images of himself and Scott inside a heart-shaped arrangement of rose petals, captured in the picturesque setting of Sorrento, Italy. In an emotional caption, he expressed, 'Erm…YES! I never thought I’d find someone who gets me and loves me for me. I have always struggled connecting my emotions in relationships and then Scott came. I felt safe and accepted and most importantly loved. I love you endlessly.'
Celebrity Guests from Across the Industry
As the wedding date approaches, Bradley has opened up about the guest list, which includes numerous celebrities from his diverse career in television. In an interview with The Mail, he revealed, 'So obviously we’ve got my new friends from Emmerdale, a couple of them are coming. Heartstopper, some of them. The Big Brother lot. I think all of the Big Brother lot are actually coming. Like David [Potts], Colson [Smith], Nikita [Kuzmin], Sharon [Osbourne], Levi [Roots], Zeze [Millz], Marisha [Wallace], Ekin-Su [Cülcüloğlu], and other people I’ve met along the way, like Arlene Phillips, Tasha [Ghouri] from Love Island.'
Reflecting on his connections, Bradley added, 'Just lots of people I’ve met through the industry and ones I’ve shared big moments in my career with. It’s going to be really nice. We were kind of like, obviously we will invite our loved ones and all our friends, and then I looked at the list and went: “Oh my god, I’ve actually got quite a lot of famous friends, I didn’t realise”. I was like: “Maybe I am embedded in the industry slowly”.'
Bradley's Rise on Emmerdale and Character Insights
Bradley joined the cast of Emmerdale last year, portraying Lewis Barton, a secret child of Emma Barton, played by Gillian Kearney, making him the sibling of mainstay Ross. His character has quickly become a fan favorite, celebrated for his genuine kindness and ability to enhance every scene. Lewis has formed an iconic partnership with Nicola King, played by Nicola Wheeler, at the Main Street café, embarked on a romance with Vinny Dingle, portrayed by Bradley Johnston, and unknowingly met his father, Kev Townsend, played by Chris Coghill.
In a recent interview with Metro, Bradley discussed the dramatic twist involving Lewis's paternity. He explained, 'We had little scenes here and there and their characters just got each other, for some reason. They felt seen by each other in an odd way. He’s blunt but Lewis never got offended by anything he said because Lewis got where he was coming from. They just understood each other. Then it developed into he’s actually my biological dad and Lewis never found out. It’s really interesting because it’s one of those things where we’re polar opposites but if it was a Venn diagram there’d be so much crossing over as well.'
Bradley praised his co-star, saying, 'It was really interesting and dynamic to play with. Chris is bonkers, he’s kind, he’s all these amazing things. Working with him was an absolute joy as well. I think it’s cool because now it’s like, will Kev ever come back? Maybe the truth will appear one day, who knows?'
Future Storylines and Personal Reflections
Looking ahead, Bradley teased upcoming developments for Lewis, particularly in his relationship with Vinny. He shared, 'Lewis has never had a boyfriend. As an actor you have to fill in the gaps sometimes so to me, Lewis has never needed to seek that. He’s always had his special interests, and he’s put his energy into those things. Vinny would be his first boyfriend, which will come with challenges. Occasionally I think there will be a little bit of miscommunication as they try and adapt to each other’s languages.'
He expressed optimism about the couple's future, noting, 'Once they get past that…I think they’ll be a strong couple. I don’t think Lewis and Vinny won’t have a honeymoon phase, they’ll just get straight into it because Lewis is very direct. I think in the long run, that will be beneficial. They have the opportunity to be a strong and happy couple.'
Bradley also hinted at dramatic twists for his character, stating, 'You’ll carry on seeing Lewis in the cafe, being Lewis. I think later down the line, he’ll work out his relationship with Vinny, and there will be a curveball for Lewis, and it’s going to be dramatic. I’ll leave that to your imagination! In Lewis form though, it’ll be quite comedic and light hearted, he never takes life too seriously.'
Career Highlights and Background
Before his role on Emmerdale, Bradley gained recognition for his performance as James McEwan in the uplifting Netflix coming-of-age drama, Heartstopper. His diverse career spans television, including reality TV and soap operas, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
Emmerdale continues to air weeknights at 8:00pm on ITV1, with streaming available from 7am on ITVX and YouTube.
