Bradley Riches Stands Up Against Emmerdale Trolls
Bradley Riches, who plays the groundbreaking character Lewis Barton on Emmerdale, has hit back at trolls who have targeted his portrayal of the first neurodivergent character in the soap. Lewis, who is autistic, is also the long-lost half-brother of Ross Barton. Riches, known for his role as James McEwan in Netflix’s Heartstopper, has been vocal about his identity as a gay man with autism and has expressed disappointment in the negative comments about his character.
In an interview with ITV News, Riches addressed the trolls, saying, “The writing for Lewis so far has been perfect. For people to say, ‘Oh he’s the most vile person in the village,’ no, he’s not. You just don’t understand him.” He emphasized that many neurodivergent people are misjudged and prejudged, often due to a lack of understanding. “He is autistic, he is openly gay, and I think a lot of these comments stem from not meeting or knowing someone like that.”
Advocating for Representation and Acceptance
Riches, who was diagnosed with autism at nine years old, has used his platform to advocate for better representation of neurodiverse individuals in the media. He’s also written a children’s book titled “A” Different Kind of Superpower to help young neurodiverse children navigate their own experiences. Riches believes that increased exposure to neurodivergent characters will lead to a more accepting world.
Reflecting on his career so far, Riches is proud of the progress that has been made in terms of representation, particularly with his role on Heartstopper and his appearance on Celebrity Big Brother last year. He believes that his portrayal of Lewis is helping to change perceptions and improve visibility for neurodiverse characters.
The Future of Lewis Barton
Riches shared his thoughts on Lewis’ future in Emmerdale and how he sees the character evolving. “At the moment, I love Lewis just being himself and showing that you don’t need a partner,” he said. Lewis has never had a boyfriend, but he knows he is attracted to boys. Riches believes that if the right person came along, Lewis would be open to exploring a relationship, but it would be a slow burn. “It would be very exciting,” he added.
As for the future of Lewis, Riches is excited to see where the character’s journey goes, particularly in terms of relationships and personal growth. With his strong performance and his advocacy for neurodivergent representation, Riches continues to make an impact both on-screen and off-screen.
