Emmerdale favourite reveals hopes for Kev Townsend return story and teases family reunion

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Bradley Riches, known for his role in Emmerdale, has shared what he’d like to see happen with Kev Townsend’s return to the show, and hinted at a possible heartwarming family reunion.

Chris Coghill portrayed Kev Townsend in Emmerdale from September 2025 until January 2026.

The character left the show after just five months, last appearing while barely managing to escape from serial killer John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth). This happened because he’d gotten caught up in John’s plan to kill Robert Sugden, Kev’s soon-to-be ex-husband (played by Ryan Hawley).

It was also discovered that Kev was Lewis Barton’s biological father, a secret he never shared and that remained unknown when he left the show. Bradley Riches played Lewis.

Chris Coghill is coming back to the ITV soap just three months after leaving, and will reappear on screen later this year.

At the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards, Bradley Riches told TopMob he was thrilled about Chris’s return, and described the new scripts as very funny.

I was thrilled Chris was returning to play my dad. He’s a fantastic and layered character, and I was really looking forward to exploring their relationship on screen.

He explained that he doesn’t have a large biological family, but he’s created a close-knit group of friends who feel like family. Currently, Ross is the only family member he has nearby, so he values building and strengthening those important connections.

Riches praised the show’s writing, saying the scripts are both funny and surprisingly serious. They highlighted the actor’s ability to add a comedic element to every scene, describing the whole thing as ‘really exciting’.

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Riches playfully hinted at the potential for Kev and Lewis’s highly anticipated family reunion to lead to them starting a family of their own, saying she’d love to see them have a child.

As a critic, I’m really hoping to see these characters connect. Right now, their relationship feels tentative, like they’re cautiously testing the waters. There’s a definite ‘will they, won’t they’ vibe, and a lot of initial hesitation. I’d love to see them move past that and actually find some common ground, build a real bond. It’s a bit awkward at the start, honestly – they seem unsure about each other, and the audience feels it too.

Riches observed that people tend to protect Lewis from difficult realities, saying, “He’s mature and intelligent enough to handle the truth. However, many people just want to overprotect him and prevent him from getting upset. It’s quite a lot to deal with, but I’d really like to see him start a family.”

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and from 7am on ITVX.

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

Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah writes about entertainment for TopMob, covering everything from popular TV shows and reality competitions to important documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, where she focused on reality TV and celebrity news. She has a journalism degree.

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Phoebe Kowhai BarnesFreelance Writer

Phoebe Kowhai Barnes is a freelance writer specializing in pop culture and entertainment for TopMob. Before that, she was a Senior Assistant Editor at The Tab, where she oversaw their local teams. She holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Nottingham.

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2026-05-10 20:04