‘Who knows?’ - Bradley Riches remains coy on whether he returns in Heartstopper season 3

Virgin Radio

18 Jul 2024, 10:47

Bradley Riches, Chris Evans at Virgin Radio studio

Credit: Virgin Radio

Actor and Virgin Radio Pride host Bradley Riches has spoken to Chris Evans about starring in hit Netflix show Heartstopper.

When he joined the Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar to chat all things Virgin Radio Pride today (18th July), the conversation turned to whether he will reprise his role as James McEwan in season three of hit Netflix teen series Heartstopper

When Chris asked, “Will you be back or not?”, the actor simply responded: “Who knows? Time will tell. Time will tell.”

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Bradley added: “It's coming back October 3rd. Whether you see my character again is another story.”

Joining Heartstopper in season two, Bradley’s character James had a crush on an asexual student called Isaac. Speaking about how he got the role, the Celebrity Big Brother star said: “It was through an open call. I was in my first year of drama school, and then my mum sent me this link to Twitter [X], and it was an open audition for this Netflix series, Heartstopper.

“I’d never really heard of what Heartstopper was. I knew it was a book. And then I went through for the first season, a couple of rounds for Charlie, but didn't get the part. And then for the first season, they asked me back just for one line, because obviously they didn't know the future of the show at that point.”

He continued: “So, I went, missed one day off college, did my one line, and then when they got renewed for season two and three, I just got an email just like, ‘We've been trying to find this character of James for quite a while. Would you like to come in and audition for him?’ I was like, ‘Of course, yeah.’ 

“I was in the second year of my degree at that point, and then I went to the audition. It was really rare that they remembered me from that one line. I made friends with all the cast from that one line, because it was just a good atmosphere to be a part of. Then I auditioned for it, and then the next day I found out. And then two days after that, I was on set.”

Speaking about growing up on telly, he told Chris: “It’s kind of crazy. It's like, when I see memories on my Snapchat and on my camera role of us in Paris filming season two, it's like, ‘God, I look so young.’

“And I've got my little curtains going on.”

Heartstopper was created by Alice Oseman. Describing her as a “genius” Bradley said: “She's incredible. She's writing the sixth volume right now. She's an amazing person, especially to be on set with, because in season two, my character encounters someone who's asexual. And the writer, Alice, is asexual. So it was nice to have them on set, so we could speak about these experiences and the storyline and make it as authentic as possible.”

Bradley was diagnosed with autism at the age of 9, and shortly afterwards began attending a drama group. “I grew up, obviously, just in a normal primary school, and I would never use sound or words as a form of communication,” he explained. “I got diagnosed with being autistic, and from that moment on, I've just tried to understand myself. And that's when I started acting. 

“My nan was like, ‘I'll take him to a little acting group down the road.’ I got more confident, and that's when I started to use words as a form of communication. It was just this escapism, acting was for me, and now you can't shut me up. And then I've just grown more confident and confident, understood myself more. I think that's the main thing that I've really learned about myself and then, and that's why I like to give to other people and try to be that representation for our community.”

He released his first book, A Different Kind Of Superpower, in November last year. “I want to keep writing them as well, and have a series of them,” he said. “So it’s kind of like Heartstopper, where you grow up with a character, but essentially the character is based on true events. So it's me basically, but it's a boy growing up, finding out that he is autistic and how he navigates his early school life with relationships, family relationships, and also just everyday life. 

“But the way my parents tell the character is basically via different like games and hobbies and essentially like different powers, and then autism being one of those powers to try and empower young autistic people to know that being different is cool.”

Bradley Riches is hosting a series of specials on Virgin Radio Pride; titled Authentically Me. He also hosts Saturdays from 1-2pm on Virgin Radio Pride. Its Big Conversation’ theme next week is ‘Why are there more neurodiverse LGBTQ people than ever?’, and Bradley’s episode of My Pride Playlist with Steve Denyer will air on Monday evening at 6pm. Read what Bradley had to say about it soon at virginradio.co.uk.

My Pride Playlist - Monday at 6pm / Authentically Me’ With Matt Terry - Wednesday at 6pm on Virgin Radio Pride / Weekly Show - Saturdays from 1-2pm

Listen on the app, online at virginradio.co.uk, on DAB or ask your smart speaker to “play Virgin Radio Pride”.

For more great interviews listen to The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with webuyanycar weekdays from 6:30am on Virgin Radio, or catch up on-demand here.

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