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Emmerdale reveals who framed Kev Barton as he plots revenge in early ITVX release

Warning: Contains spoilers for Friday's hour-long episode of Emmerdale, which airs at 8pm on ITV1 or can be streamed now on ITVX.

Kev Townsend in his van in a scene from Emmerdale

ITV

Published: Friday, 10 July 2026 at 8:00 am

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We finally know who framed Kev Barton for burgling the café in Emmerdale.

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The beloved ex-crim, played by Chris Coghill, staged a return to the village last month amid a kidnapping ordeal for his estranged son Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches) – who, at the time, had no idea who his birth father was.

Lewis was held captive by Kev's former girlfriend, until he returned a precious diamond that contained the ashes of her deceased cat. Fortunately, after days of being locked in her spare bedroom, he was freed by half-brother Ross (Michael Parr).

This incident then launched a vicious feud, as Ross instantly took a disliking to Kev upon realising the paternity secret. He believed that by welcoming him into Emmerdale village, it wouldn't take long for him to return to a life of crime and Lewis would be left heartbroken.

Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) wasn't impressed by his return either. During his absence, he'd established a food truck that sold baked goods - and he parked it right outside of the Main Street Café.

Kev talks to Lewis outside of the caff in Emmerdale

Bradley Riches and Chris Coghill as Lewis and Kev Barton. ITV

Despite her repeated warnings to find a new patch as he was stealing her customers, Kev made it clear that he was sticking around to form a bond with Lewis.

Earlier this week, Kev dropped a huge bombshell. He'd changed his surname to Barton from Townsend to feel closer to his son, though the gesture didn't exactly hit the right note and Lewis warned him to stay away.

However, when Kev opened up about his real reasoning for the moniker change, Lewis softened. The Townsend surname had carried a lot of weight throughout Kev's childhood, and many people associated him with his unruly father.

This was a chance for him to break free from his troubled past.

Lewis agreed to start taking things slowly, though Ross wasn't so sure. He told Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker) that it would only be a matter of time before Kev returned to the criminal underworld.

That night, someone broke into the café, smashed up the counter and stole the cash box.

In today's episode, Lewis and Nicola were stunned to find their business in such a state. Attention immediately turned to Kev, though Lewis was reluctant to believe that his dad would jeopardise this new beginning so quickly.

Nicola and Bradley find a trashed cafe in Emmerdale

Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) and Ross Barton (Michael Parr) framed Kev. ITV

They spotted that his truck was unmanned, though the door was open. Lewis wandered over and was shocked to find their cash box on the floor.

The pair raced to find Kev, who was adamant that he'd been set up. Soon after, it transpired that he was right.

Ross and Nicola met up and took great delight in the fact Lewis believed their scheme. They were hoping that, by framing Kev, he'd feel the need to flee the village before the police caught up with him.

Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb) was then made privy to their plotting, and given his ongoing distaste towards Ross, decided to tell Kev. He was furious that they'd tried to ruin his chances at getting to bond with his son.

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Kev was uncertain whether Mack was telling the truth, but eventually believed the claims and challenged Ross. A physical fight ensued, and when Lewis walked in, he assumed that Kev was causing more trouble for his family.

Later, in The Woolpack toilets, Kev warned Ross that he was going to fight to prove to Lewis that he's a good man, and that it would only be a matter of time before the lies were exposed. He also asserted that there was plenty of people in the area who hated Ross, and when they came for him, he'd be more than happy to support them.

What does Kev have planned?

Read more:

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

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Authors

Michael Adams wearing a white t-shirt and beige gilet against a white background

Michael AdamsSoaps Editor

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

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