Emmerdale star Bradley Riches has delivered a powerful response to viewers who have described some of his character Lewis Barton's traits as 'annoying', offering an educational insight into autistic masking.
Understanding Lewis Barton's Character
Bradley Riches made his debut as Lewis Barton in May 2025, quickly establishing the character as autistic when he explained this to his newly discovered brother, Ross Barton, played by Michael Parr. The soap has continued to explore Lewis's autism through various storylines, including when he became overwhelmed while working in the busy café after purchasing Brenda Walker's shares, portrayed by Lesley Dunlop.
During a particularly stressful shift, Lewis retreated to the back of the café to listen to music and organise items as a coping mechanism. When Nicola King, played by Nicola Wheeler, learned about his technique, she showed understanding and support. Beyond his work at the café, Lewis regularly interacts with villagers including Ruby Miligan (Beth Cordingly), Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker), and his new friend Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson).
The Reality of Autistic Masking
Some viewers have expressed confusion or frustration about Lewis's habit of filling conversational gaps with laughter. Bradley Riches, who is autistic himself, took to Instagram to explain this behaviour as a form of autistic masking, directly addressing the critical comments.
'Some people have said the little laughs or giggles my character Lewis does in scenes are "annoying" or they don't get it...well wonder no more because the fact is: that's autistic masking', Bradley stated in his social media post. He elaborated that masking involves hiding or managing natural autistic traits to fit social expectations, particularly in customer-facing roles like working in a café.
'That little laugh isn't random,' Bradley explained. 'It's a way to seem warm, to soften interactions, or to fill the gap when you're unsure what reaction is expected. It can also help manage anxiety in the moment – a learned habit to keep the social energy going.'
He emphasised that other forms of masking can include copying gestures, forcing eye contact, rehearsing conversations beforehand, or concealing sensory discomfort. Bradley stressed that masking 'isn't fake – it's survival', though he acknowledged the exhausting nature of constantly managing these behaviours.
Viewer Response and Storyline Developments
Bradley's educational post prompted an outpouring of support from viewers, many sharing how meaningful Lewis's representation has been for them. One user revealed that Bradley joining the show coincided with their own late autism diagnosis at 38 years old, expressing how important it is to see such representation on screen.
Another commenter praised Bradley for raising awareness, noting that his explanation could help autistic people who may not understand why they engage in similar behaviours.
Meanwhile, Lewis's storyline continues to develop dramatically. After Ross Barton initially hesitated to meet his newly discovered brother, their relationship has been complicated by Ross's protective lies about their mother Emma's death and Lewis's subsequent discovery that Moira Dingle murdered his mother.
The tension escalated when Ross and Mackenzie Boyd discovered Lewis was growing cannabis plants in his loft for medicinal purposes and decided to steal them to help Moira with farm fines. Lewis caught Mack breaking in and locked him in the loft, demanding the truth about his mother's death from Ross.
Most recently, following Vinny Dingle's marriage breakdown with Gabby Thomas, Lewis and Ross have moved in with Vinny, creating a new household dynamic that promises further dramatic developments in the Yorkshire village.
