Emmerdale’s Kev confronts his secret shame as he makes headway with Lewis
Emmerdale’s Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) is nothing if not persistent and as he’s vowed to be a dad to Lewis Barton (Bradly Riches), he intends to stick to his word.
Everyone and his son has tried to stop him; from Ross Barton (Mike Parr) to Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson), even his dodgy pal Steve (Jason Done).
Ross set it up to make it look like Kev burgled the café, with Nicola King(Nichola Wheeler) as his wingman, though it didn’t take long for the truth to come to light.
Then Vinny spotted him getting into a car with a crowbar and told the world it was because Kev was off to do a job. In actual fact, he was trying to stop Steve doing a job, but of course everyone listened to Vinny.
Vinny then set him up to look like a violent thug, making out that Kev had attacked him when he’d done no such thing. Vinny’s intentions weren’t all bad – his own childhood abuse coloured his thoughts on Kev and he wanted to protect Lewis from the same fate he suffered. He ultimately confessed after his mum twisted his arm.
Kev has really tried to turn his life around for Lewis (Picture: ITV)
So, Lewis has accepted Kev back in his life, but things are tentative and Kev knows it. He’s on edge, out of his depth at this whole playing dad thing.
Lewis agrees to meet up, and the pair hit proper father and son status as Lewis reveals he can’t ride a bike and Kev offers to teach him. A wholesome moment ahead. Problem is, Kev doesn’t know how either.
He’s so desperate to stay on the straight and narrow but with temptation at every corner, it’s a wonder how he’ll manage it. Ruby Miligan (Beth Cordingly) corners him and asks him to rob the delivery for Jimmy’s new haulage contract.
She does not expect him to turn down this golden opportunity, but that he does – he’s not about the thug life anymore. But could Ruby have something on him that might force his hand?
Before he has that to worry about though, he’s got to figure out how to balance on two wheels. He tries to show Lewis how to do it but immediately loses his balance and crashes.
He lies on the floor, wiped out by his lies and lack of skill.
Lewis doesn’t give up on him and it’s a tender moment as he gets on the floor and lies next to his fallen dad, and they bond, just as Lewis delivers him some huge news.
Is this the big turning point for our Kev, or will he spoil it by taking Ruby up on her offer?
Teasing what lies ahead for his character Lewis Barton, star Bradley Riches said: ‘There will be some highs and lows, some dramas, some fights. There’s going to be a lot. Lewis starts to process something, then something it happens, and it all goes back to square one.
‘It all happens on the birthday so it’s even more dramatic. In the coming weeks you see Kev and Lewis bond because there’s some hard stuff coming up. Lewis thought things were going to be perfect but nothing is as perfect as it seems.
‘The Barton family come together and support each other, which is really nice.’
