An emotional family twist is about to shake the foundations of Emmerdale once again, and this time, it’s Ross Barton who finds himself caught in the storm. Actor Michael Parr, who plays the troubled yet beloved Ross, has opened up about an explosive upcoming storyline involving a new Barton on the block—his long-lost brother, Lewis.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Heartstopper star Bradley Riches would be joining the cast as Lewis Barton, a new face with deep family ties to the Dales. But this isn’t just another casual character addition—Lewis arrives with a purpose. His journey begins with a heartfelt and nerve-wracking decision: to reach out to his estranged older brother, Ross, in hopes of learning about the family he never truly knew.

The reunion, however, is anything but easy. According to Michael Parr, Ross’s reaction is far from warm. “It’s quite overwhelming for Ross because it brings up so many bad memories,” he admitted. “There are so many secrets.” For a man like Ross, who has spent years building emotional walls around himself to keep the past at bay, the sudden reappearance of a sibling he barely knows feels like a direct hit to his fragile stability.

What makes this twist even more poignant is the emotional baggage Ross carries. As Michael explains, Lewis has idolized a particular version of their shared mother—one that Ross knows to be deeply flawed. “Having to tell somebody who’s glorified this mother figure that she was actually bonkers… It’s not great,” the actor confessed. The burden of shattering Lewis’ illusions only adds to Ross’s emotional turmoil.

Ross is known for his brash, defensive nature—a personality shaped by years of pain, betrayal, and loss. “He reacts in his usual cantankerous way,” Michael said. “His walls go up.” Given Ross’s tragic history—marked by the deaths of two girlfriends, four family members, and a string of heartbreaks—it’s no surprise that he’s reluctant to let anyone new in. He’s a man haunted by the fear that getting close to someone means eventually losing them.

But Lewis isn’t just any stranger. He shares blood, memories, and—unknowingly at first—a history laced with pain. What sets Lewis apart, though, is his “infectious” personality, which begins to wear down Ross’s hardened exterior. Michael noted that Lewis reminds Ross of his late brother Finn, whose untimely death left a hole in his heart. That similarity becomes both a trigger and a balm—forcing Ross to confront old wounds while offering a glimmer of emotional connection he didn’t know he needed.

“There’s so many similarities between this character and Finn,” Michael revealed, “that [Ross] puts his walls up because he can’t emotionally afford to lose anybody else.” But gradually, Lewis’ purity and unwavering kindness begin to chip away at Ross’s emotional armor. “It takes a little while for Ross to let his guard down,” he said, “but it’s hard for him to say no to Lewis.”

The storyline promises to explore Ross in ways fans haven’t seen before. Beneath the rough exterior is a man who desperately needs someone on his side. Michael spoke candidly about the emotional toll Ross’s past has taken on him: “He was starting to think that he was the touch of death. Everybody he gets close to seems to get killed off.” With Lewis’ arrival, however, there’s a chance for Ross to experience something different—hope, healing, and maybe even redemption.

Off-screen, Michael Parr has nothing but praise for his new co-star, Bradley Riches. Describing him as a “breath of fresh air,” Michael shared how quickly the two actors connected. “It was an instant click,” he said. Bradley has not only brought new energy to the set but is also helping draw a younger audience into the show. “He’s been such an important part of the show for cast morale in the building,” Michael added, “but also bringing a new generation of audience members into the show.”

As Lewis’s storyline unfolds, Emmerdale fans can expect a powerful and emotionally rich narrative that delves deep into family trauma, identity, and the fragile bonds of brotherhood. With Ross confronting the ghosts of his past and Lewis stepping into a world he’s only heard about in fragments, the Barton family is once again at the heart of a gripping saga that promises heartache, revelation, and perhaps—just perhaps—a path to healing.

Will Ross finally let someone in without fearing loss? Can Lewis handle the truth behind the family he’s longed to reconnect with? And will the Bartons ever find peace in a village where secrets never stay buried?

Stay tuned—this reunion could change everything.

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