Emmerdale favourite confirmed for break from soap after a year in the role – as ITV soaps change cast rules

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I’m a bit sad to hear that Lewis Barton, one of my favourite characters on Emmerdale, is leaving for a little while later this year. It’s not a storyline thing, though – Bradley Riches, the actor who plays him, is going to be performing in a Christmas pantomime! It’s great he’s getting to do that, and I’m glad it’s just a temporary exit for Lewis.

Actor Kit Connor, known for his roles in Netflix’s Heartstopper and the ITV soap opera, will play Peter Pan in The Further Adventures of Peter Pan: The Return of Captain Hook at the Sunderland Empire starting in December.

Because his role on the soap opera is so demanding, he needs a short break to perform in a stage play. But don’t worry, fans of Lewis! He’ll be returning, and he might not be the only one trading the television studio for the theater during the holidays.

ITV has changed its rules to allow actors from its soaps to take on short-term work with other companies, a spokesperson for TopMob confirmed.

We’re letting some of the actors from Emmerdale and Coronation Street perform in pantomimes this year. We’ve been planning this for a while and were able to arrange their temporary release with enough advance notice.

Riches expressed his excitement about returning to pantomime, particularly to reprise his role as Peter Pan. He described it as a classic and enchanting part to play.

There’s a special magic to performing in front of a live audience at Christmas, and I’m thrilled to be doing it at the Sunderland Empire. I’m really looking forward to a fantastic and joyful holiday season – I can’t wait to get started!

The show’s producer promises a fun and exciting experience for viewers, filled with adventure, humor, and a touch of magic.

Quite the far cry from Emmerdale’s drama!

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Last month, at the Attitude 101 event, Riches expressed his hope that Chris Coghill, who plays his on-screen father Kev Townsend, would reprise his role in the show, as he told RT.

He believes a connection between Kevin and Lewis is inevitable, saying, “Everyone loved Kevin.” He explained that Kevin was both clever and amusing, but more importantly, he senses a strange, unacknowledged connection between the two men and thinks it’s worth exploring that relationship further.

“The short answer is yes, we want Kev back. Bring Kev back!”

The connection between Lewis and Vinny Dingle will develop from their friendship, leaving both characters unsure of where they stand at first. However, the actor hints that once they navigate this uncertainty, their relationship will blossom into something positive.

As someone who’s neurodivergent and autistic, I find it fascinating to observe how connections form when traditional communication isn’t present. It really opens your eyes to dynamics you might not normally notice or deal with in everyday relationships – things that often stay hidden.

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX.

Want to stay up-to-date with Emmerdale? Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app! Download it now for daily TV suggestions, articles, and more.

Authors

Michael AdamsSoaps Editor

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at TopMob, providing all the latest news and spoilers from popular shows like Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, and Hollyoaks. Before joining TopMob, he was a Soaps Reporter at Metro for two years and also worked directly on the sets of Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

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2026-03-05 20:05