Emmerdale has officially confirmed the exit of Kev Townsend, with actor Chris Coghill revealing that his final scenes have now aired. While Kev’s return was brief, his impact has been anything but small — and viewers are already demanding more.
Kev first arrived as a chaotic antagonist, quickly positioning himself as a threat to Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle. After failing to split the couple, he left the village — only to return dramatically over the festive period alongside killer John Sugden.
At first, the alliance sparked panic among fans. But in a surprising twist, Kev refused to go through with John’s deadly plan. Instead, he warned Aaron, saving his life and revealing an unexpected moral streak beneath the madness. What began as villainy turned into comedy gold — and then, unexpectedly, redemption.
The most painful unresolved thread involves Kev’s son, Lewis Barton. Lewis remains unaware of Kev’s true identity, after Nicola King issued a brutal ultimatum: step up immediately or walk away forever. Believing his criminal past would only harm his son, Kev chose to leave — a selfless but heartbreaking decision that buried yet another secret in the Dales.
Coghill confirmed his departure on Instagram, thanking the show and fans and signing off with “Right, in a bit.” The reaction was instant. Viewers flooded the comments begging for Kev’s return, praising his transformation from antagonist to fan favourite.
The cast joined in too. Bradley Riches, who plays Lewis, posted a touching “miss you dad,” while Danny Miller — Aaron himself — joked that he was ready to “start a petition” to bring Kev back.
When fans and cast agree, soap history suggests one thing: this goodbye may not be forever.