Emmerdale star Lisa Riley is currently captivating audiences in the I'm A Celebrity jungle, but her co-star Bradley Riches has revealed her secret struggles behind the scenes.
Bradley, who plays Lewis Barton on the popular ITV soap, has been appointed as Lisa's social media manager during her jungle stint and is championing her journey every step of the way.
The Bond Behind the Scenes
In an exclusive interview with The Mirror, Bradley opened up about their firm friendship that blossomed from their very first meeting in the Emmerdale makeup room. "When I first met Lisa, she welcomed me with open arms," Bradley recalled. "On my first day, I went in there, sat on my chair and was really nervous and she just came over and introduced herself and we established that bond from the get go."
Bradley described Lisa as a "champion for queer voices" and a protective maternal figure who makes him feel safe. Their off-screen friendship contrasts with their characters Mandy Dingle and Lewis Barton, who rarely cross paths on the show.
Lisa's Authentic Jungle Self
Bradley expressed his delight at seeing Lisa's true personality shining through on the reality show. "I've never watched one of these shows where I've known someone well," he revealed. "Seeing Lisa on there being her true authentic self is wonderful. You see her naughtiness. You see her kindness. You see her amazing listening skills. You see her openness."
Despite her confident appearance, Bradley disclosed that Lisa's biggest concern before entering the jungle was whether she would make people proud. "The only thing she was nervous about was missing people because she loves her family to pieces," he shared. "She kept saying she wanted to make people proud of her."
Bradley's Own Jungle Ambitions
The actor, who previously appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2024, admitted he would consider following in Lisa's footsteps to the Australian jungle - with some reservations. "Big Brother was great fun - but you have air conditioning!" he quipped. "I don't know how I'd be with trials - I'd just go for it and hope for the best."
Bradley expressed concerns about the sensory challenges of jungle life, noting that "the sensory thing of being in a moist camp all the time would aggravate me." However, he confirmed that if the opportunity arose, "if the phone came ringing, I'd go to Australia!"
Beyond the jungle, Bradley is making waves with his upcoming book Autistically Me, available for pre-order ahead of its 2026 release. The book draws from his personal experiences to provide advice for autistic people, teachers, parents, and wider communities.
He also spoke proudly about portraying an autistic character on Emmerdale, emphasizing that "to have someone like Lewis in the village, it's so crucial" for representation.
As for Lisa's jungle journey, Bradley remains her biggest cheerleader, declaring: "She's doing amazing and we wanna take her to the end!"
