Kev explains tragic past in Emmerdale as he makes unexpected change for Lewis
How much are we loving that Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) is back in Emmerdale? What a lad.
Kev was thrust back into the village after his illegitimate son was kidnapped and held to ransom after he stole his ex-girlfriend’s dead cat’s ashes that had been turned into a diamond.
On top of those shockers – and the fact he’s a criminal-turned-master baker – Kev now wants to be a doting dad to Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches) after the whole hostage situation gave him pause for thought.
Lewis, unsurprisingly, isn’t so keen. Kev might bake the best lemon drizzle this side of Hotten but he’s not smart enough to realise abandoning his kid at birth and again during a diamond heist are not conducive of a great father/son relationship. In other words, he’s surprisingly gutted by Lewis’ reaction.
So Kev decides something big has to happen to prove his new loyalty – he changes his name from Townsend to Barton. They’re family now, or so he thinks.
The reason by the grand gesture? All linked to Kev’s dark past. He delves into the tragedy of what’s gone before for him, explaining how he became such a wrong’un, vowing never to back to prison. To him, the name change protects Lewis from his tragic background.
When Ross Barton (Michael Parr) walks in and is ready to throw fists at Kev, Lewis softens and says he wants to give his dad a chance. Not what Ross had in mind, but he’ll let Lewis make up his own mind. Not before warning Kev; hurt his little brother and he’ll find out just how good a fighter Ross is.
Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) is also in Ross’ camp when it comes to protecting Lewis and hands Kev her own threat by giving him daggers over how he treats Lewis. Ross believes Kev will screw it all up anyway, given time.
As if he is being answered by the gods, not long after, a figure breaks into the café and steals the cash box. Lewis and Nicola are dumbstruck by the ransacking of the place the prime suspect is Kev.
Kev of course denies it, but is that because he didn’t actually do it?
Lewis goes cold on his dad, but this stinks of a stitch up – is Ross behind it? Or would Nicola go as far as to stage it herself to protect her pal?
