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EMMERDALE is getting a brand new Barton brother - and he’s being played by a very familiar face.

The ITV soap delighted fans last month when they revealed Heartstopper star Bradley Riches was joining the soap in a brand new role.

Still image from Emmerdale episode 6815: Ross Barton confronts Pete Barton in a kitchen.
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Ross and Pete Barton were the last two remaining Barton brothers - until nowCredit: ITV
Two men posing together in a barn.
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Bradley Riches has revealed he's playing a new Barton brother

And while the character was being kept under wraps, The Sun exclusively revealed how he was going to be connected to a family in the village.

Now it has been confirmed that Bradley is playing a new Barton - the younger brother of Ross, Pete and the late Finn.

Posting the news alongside a picture of him and Ross Barton actor Mike Parr on Instagram, Bradley wrote: "Hello brother… I guess good looks do run in the family."

He added to Magazine: “I play Lewis Barton. He's studying at Leeds University and related to Ross [portrayed by Michael Parr].”

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[Lewis] has known about his brother for a while, but he finally builds up the courage to reach out to him, see if they get along and ask questions about his family." 

The actor - who also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother last year - also revealed how he got the role on Emmerdale.

He bumped into a producer from the soap at the National Television Awards and got chatting.

And while originally he auditioned for the role of Dylan, April Windsor’s homeless pal, instead he was offered the role of Lewis.

He added: “I came to Leeds for a meeting for a different character: Dylan, who is in April's storyline. But then the schedule didn't work, and I thought I'd missed the opportunity." 

"I felt like it was meant to be.cThe personality of the character fits me so much better."

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And it can also be revealed that Lewis will be Emmerdale’s first neurodivergent character with both actor and character being autistic.

Bradley said: "The writers were very open to [hearing] how I would say things. For example, in the autism community, we don't say, 'I have autism.' 

“I don't mind, but some disagree because it's not additional. I am autistic."

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