Emmerdale actor Chris Coghill has confirmed that his time as Kev Townsend on the ITV soap has come to an end, with his final scenes already aired. The character, who first appeared in the village last year, departed after deciding that his son Lewis Barton would be better off without him.
Coghill announced the news on Instagram, writing: "Right. In a bit Emmerdale. Been an absolute joy. Thanks for all the love for Kev", followed by "#kevout". The post prompted an outpouring of support from fans and co-stars alike, with many expressing hope that Kev might return in the future.
Among those reacting was Danny Miller, who plays Aaron Dingle, who commented: "I'm gonna start a petition." Bradley Riches, who portrays Lewis, also joined in, writing: "MISS YOU dad XX." Fans took to the replies to plead for Coghill's return, with one calling Kev "the best thing to happen in Emmerdale for years".
Kev's exit storyline saw him confronted by Nicola King, who demanded he either step up as a father to Lewis or leave for good. Kev ultimately chose to walk away, leaving Lewis unaware of his true parentage. Prior to his departure, Kev had alerted Aaron to danger posed by John, a former flame of Aaron's, and refused to go through with John's scheme.
In a previous interview with The Mirror, Coghill revealed that he initially hesitated to take the role because he was told the character would be killed off. However, after learning more about Kev and the potential for fun storylines, he decided to accept the part. Whether Kev will ever return remains uncertain, but the public pleas from cast and fans suggest the door may be left open.
