TL;DR
- Bradley Riches discusses his childhood as a non-verbal child.
- He talks about masking his autism and sexuality during school.
- Riches shares his journey of coming out at 19.
- His upcoming book aims to support neurodiverse individuals.
- He reflects on the loneliness of navigating dual identities.
In a heartfelt episode of Attitude Presents: Out with Suzi Ruffell, Bradley Riches, the talented actor from Heartstopper and Emmerdale, opens up about his personal journey navigating the complexities of autism and sexuality. At just 24 years old, he’s already made waves in the industry, recently snagging the title of Best Soap Newcomer at the TV Choice Awards. But behind the accolades lies a story of struggle and resilience.
Riches recalls a time when words were elusive; he didn’t begin speaking until he was around eight or nine, with his first utterance being a sweet but clumsy attempt at his sister Amber’s name: “Abba.” His diagnosis at age ten led him to speech therapy, but it was his grandmother’s encouragement to join an after-school drama club that opened a door to a version of himself he could barely access at school.
Describing his secondary school years as a period of “double-masking,” Riches reveals how he felt the pressure to suppress both his autistic traits and his emerging sexuality. “It was kind of like I’d been hit with the double whammy,” he reflects. The loneliness of this experience was palpable, as he felt he had no one to turn to during such a tumultuous time. “For all my life I could be there with my parents, my sister, and they were there to support me. But with this, I was like, my God, there’s no one here for me. It was a very lonely time.”
It wasn’t until he was 19, during the lockdown, that he found the courage to come out to his family. Until then, his long-term partner Scott had been introduced as just a friend. Riches shares that this experience of masking his true self took a toll on him, leading him to wish he had been more accepting of himself sooner. “I wish I didn’t have so many thoughts in my head. I wish I didn’t go through it all by myself because it was really lonely,” he admits.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/fr7DiQ7M0dI
Riches also touches on the intersection of neurodivergence and queerness, noting how his role as James in Heartstopper allowed him to explore a part of adolescence that he felt was denied to him. His upcoming book, Autistically Me: How to Understand and Celebrate Our Unique Minds, aims to reach neurodiverse individuals, their families, and educators, emphasizing that “different doesn’t mean less.”
As new episodes of Out with Suzi Ruffell drop every Friday, listeners can look forward to more inspiring conversations with guests like Munroe Bergdorf and Dan Gillespie Sells. Riches’ story is a powerful reminder of the importance of visibility and acceptance in our communities, and we can’t wait to see how his journey continues to unfold.