Emmerdale and Heartstopper star Bradley Riches has shared the shocking story of how his honeymoon hotel mysteriously 'vanished', forcing him and his new husband Scott Johnston to completely change their plans. The couple, both 24, tied the knot in a lavish ceremony but faced a major hiccup in the lead-up to their honeymoon.
Speaking exclusively about their wedding and proposal, the pair revealed the horror when they realised the hotel they had booked for their honeymoon had seemingly disappeared. "We were meant to go to Turkey," Bradley explains. "But the hotel basically vanished. We still don't know what happened. So we had a mini-moon in Portugal. It was perfect – sun, cocktails, just time together."
Their journey began as a solid friendship, which grew closer in 2020 after they went on a proper date when lockdown restrictions were lifted. From that moment, both knew they had found The One. They continued living together in Hitchin, Hertfordshire while studying, and soon Bradley landed his first major role as James McEwan in Netflix series Heartstopper in 2022.
A Star-Studded Wedding
Fast forward to 2024, and the couple's next chapter began shortly after Bradley's stint on ITV's Celebrity Big Brother, where he finished in sixth place. The pair are now married after a lavish wedding at Lillibrooke Manor & Barns in Maidenhead, Berkshire.
This joyous occasion came shortly after Bradley shared an emotional update on Instagram, revealing the heartbreaking news that his great-grandmother had passed away just days before the wedding. Uploading a throwback snap from his childhood, Bradley, 24, wrote: "Never did I think I would be saying goodbye to my Gt. Nanny just days before my wedding. Before she passed, she told me she'd be with me on my big day… and I know she will be."
He added: "She loved Scott so much – never questioned us, just loved us fully. I will miss you every day. See ya later love you xxx"
Many followers took to the comments with messages of support, including fellow Emmerdale star Fred Kettle, who shared three love heart emojis. Another user wrote: "So sorry Brad, lots of love." A third said: "I'm heartbroken for you all. Sending you and your family so much love and strength."
Bradley also shared the post on his Stories with an additional message: "Love you so much." He followed it up with an image of a sunset.
A Romantic Proposal in Sorrento
The actor tied the knot with Scott Johnston this month. He had shared a video of the proposal at the end of last year, adding: "2020 was my favourite yet but... 2026 gonna be even better as I get to marry my best friend." The romantic proposal from Scott took place in Sorrento, Italy.
Bradley previously promised the wedding would be a star-studded event, saying: "I think all of the Big Brother lot are actually coming. Like David [Potts], Colson [Smith], Nikita [Kuzmin], Sharon [Osbourne], Levi [Roots], Zeze [Millz], Marisha [Wallace], Ekin-Su [Cülcüloğlu], and other people I've met along the way, like Arlene Phillips, Tasha [Ghouri] from Love Island."
Representing the Neurodivergent Community
Bradley is best known for his role as Lewis Barton on the ITV soap Emmerdale. Both Lewis and Bradley in real life are autistic, and the actor said after landing the role that it has been an important step in representing the neurodivergent community.
After his debut episode, Bradley wrote: "I'm so deeply grateful to the scriptwriters for crafting such a moving and authentic scene – showing Lewis overwhelmed by work in a way that felt so real to me and many others. And then to have Nicola step in with such quiet understanding… it was the kind of support every neurodivergent person deserves to feel seen, safe, and understood."
