Emmerdale's Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) is determined to be a dad to Lewis Barton (Bradly Riches), despite numerous attempts to stop him. From Ross Barton (Mike Parr) to Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson), and even his dodgy pal Steve (Jason Done), everyone has tried to interfere.
Ross set Kev up to look like he burgled the café, with Nicola King (Nichola Wheeler) as his accomplice, but the truth soon came out. Vinny then spotted Kev getting into a car with a crowbar and spread rumors that he was off to do a job, when in reality he was trying to stop Steve from doing one. Vinny later set him up to appear violent, falsely claiming Kev had attacked him.
Vinny's motives weren't entirely bad – his own childhood abuse influenced his views, and he wanted to protect Lewis from a similar fate. He eventually confessed after his mother pressured him.
Lewis Accepts Kev Back
Lewis has now accepted Kev back into his life, but things are tentative. Kev is on edge, feeling out of his depth at this whole fatherhood thing. When Lewis agrees to meet up, they hit proper father-son status as Lewis reveals he can't ride a bike, and Kev offers to teach him – a wholesome moment ahead.
The problem is, Kev doesn't know how to ride a bike either. He's desperate to stay on the straight and narrow, but with temptation everywhere, it's a wonder how he'll manage. Ruby Miligan (Beth Cordingly) corners him and asks him to rob a delivery for Jimmy's new haulage contract. She doesn't expect him to turn it down, but he does – he's not about the thug life anymore. But could Ruby have something on him that might force his hand?
A Tender Moment and Huge News
Before dealing with that, Kev has 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. Lying on the floor, wiped out by his lies and lack of skill, Lewis doesn't give up on him. In a tender moment, Lewis gets on the floor and lies next to his fallen dad, and they bond, just as Lewis delivers some huge news.
Is this the big turning point for Kev, or will he spoil it by taking Ruby up on her offer? Teasing what lies ahead, 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.'
