Emmerdale’s Bradley Riches issues ‘public apology’ to Love Island winners
When soap stars step outside the fictional villages audiences know them for, the results can be just as memorable — and just as headline-grabbing. That was certainly the case this week, when Bradley Riches, best known to viewers as Lewis Barton on Emmerdale, found himself trending for all the right reasons after a light-hearted slip-up on Celebrity Mastermind.
The moment, which Bradley later shared with fans on social media, saw the actor jokingly issue a “public apology” to the winners of Love Island 2025 — turning a wrong answer into a moment of warmth, humour, and powerful advocacy.
Far from being an embarrassment, the incident highlighted exactly why Bradley has become one of Emmerdale’s most talked-about newer stars: his honesty, self-awareness, and refusal to shy away from being unapologetically himself.
From Barton Family Secrets to Quiz Show Spotlight
Bradley Riches joined Emmerdale last year as Lewis Barton, arriving in the village on a deeply emotional mission — to uncover the truth about his biological mother, the late Emma Barton. Long-time viewers will remember Emma’s explosive storyline, which ended with her death at the hands of Moira Dingle, while Adam Barton took the blame and fled the village, remaining on the run from the police.
Lewis’ arrival reopened old wounds for the Barton family and instantly anchored him to one of the soap’s most complicated legacies. Rather than fading into the background, however, Lewis quickly carved out a place of his own in the village.
Through his work at the café, Lewis struck up a close friendship with Nicola King, showcasing a gentler, more humorous side of village life. At the same time, a flirty and playful dynamic began to develop between Lewis and Vinny Dingle — a relationship that has steadily grown in popularity with viewers.
Perhaps most striking has been Lewis’ sibling relationship with Ross Barton, who returned to the village in 2024 after a lengthy absence. Ross’ comeback was anything but quiet, with his first appearance involving an unlicensed boxing match against Billy Fletcher — a brutal reintroduction that contrasted sharply with Lewis’ quieter, emotionally grounded presence.
A Groundbreaking Role for Representation
Lewis Barton also represents a milestone for Emmerdale. He is the show’s first neurodivergent character, a move that has been widely praised for bringing more authentic representation to prime-time television.
Bradley, who is autistic himself, has spoken openly about what the role means to him — both professionally and personally. In a candid statement shared previously, the actor described the experience as life-changing.
“As an autistic actor, stepping into this role feels deeply personal — finally getting to bring my whole self to the screen, without masking, without shrinking,” he explained. “It’s a reminder of how real burnout and masking can be, and how important it is to show those layers with honesty and care. I’m proud, I’m seen, and I’m so incredibly grateful to help tell a story that means everything to me.”
Those words resonated far beyond the Emmerdale fanbase, positioning Bradley as not just an actor, but a visible advocate for neurodivergent voices in mainstream drama.
Celebrity Mastermind: When Nerves Meet Humour
That same honesty was on full display during Bradley’s recent appearance on Celebrity Mastermind. Competing on the iconic BBC quiz show, the actor managed seven correct answers during the general knowledge round — a respectable performance by any standard.
However, it was the incorrect answers that truly stole the spotlight.
In a clip later shared on Instagram, Bradley poked fun at himself by highlighting some of the moments where his brain simply refused to cooperate under pressure. One particularly memorable slip saw him confidently describing a meerkat as “a big cat,” prompting laughter from fans and fellow celebrities alike.
Captioning the clip, Bradley wrote with trademark self-deprecation: “My autistic brain said ‘questions? absolutely not’ so I just free-styled my answers. A Meerkat is now officially a Cat now.”
Rather than attempting to brush the mistakes under the carpet, Bradley embraced them — turning the moment into a celebration of individuality rather than a source of embarrassment.
The Love Island Mix-Up That Sparked a ‘Public Apology’
The biggest talking point, however, came when Bradley misidentified the winners of Love Island 2025. In the heat of the moment, he mistakenly placed Toni Laites and Cach Mercer on The Great British Bake Off instead of the villa.
Realising his error, Bradley took to Instagram to issue a tongue-in-cheek apology, writing: “Also want to publicly apologise to the icons @tonilaites and @cacherel_ — I know you won Love Island, just the words weren’t computing.”
Rather than taking offence, Toni responded with warmth and humour, replying: “close enough.” Bradley immediately fired back with another joke: “get that baking trophy next.”
The exchange delighted fans of both shows, with many praising the interaction as refreshingly kind in an online world often dominated by negativity.
Losing the Quiz — Winning Something Bigger
While Bradley didn’t take home the Celebrity Mastermind trophy, he was quick to point out what truly mattered. “Did I lose Celebrity Mastermind? Yes. Did I raise money for @autisticauk? Also yes. SO SLAY,” he wrote.
That message encapsulated the spirit of his appearance — a blend of humour, humility, and purpose. By participating, Bradley helped raise funds and awareness for autism charities, reinforcing his commitment to representation beyond the screen.
Support quickly poured in from his Emmerdale co-stars. Laura Norton was among the first to comment, writing: “You are wonderful.” Ash Palmisciano, who plays Matty Barton, added his own praise: “Ah you’re the best you haha — best Mastermind I’ve seen to be honest.”
A Star Defined by Authenticity
In an industry that often rewards perfection, Bradley Riches continues to stand out by embracing imperfection. Whether navigating the emotional complexity of the Barton family on Emmerdale or laughing at himself on a national quiz show, he remains unapologetically genuine.
The Celebrity Mastermind moment may have started as a wrong answer, but it ended as a reminder of why audiences connect so deeply with him — not because he always gets it right, but because he shows up exactly as he is.
And in today’s television landscape, that authenticity might just be the biggest win of all.