Emmerdale viewers are increasingly convinced that Lewis Barton is heading toward a new romantic storyline after his emotional conversation about his mental health struggles. The storyline, which aired during Thursday’s episode (November 20) of the ITV soap, has sparked speculation among fans that Lewis (played by Bradley Riches) might be on the brink of a romance with his flatmate, Vinny Dingle (Bradley Johnson).

The episode saw Lewis working at the café when a long queue formed, causing him to become overwhelmed. As the pressure mounted, he began to feel dizzy and, unable to handle the situation, rushed home, where he experienced the onset of a panic attack. His distress didn’t go unnoticed, with Nicola King (Nicola Wheeler) quickly following him to his home at Dale View, where she found him in a state of anxiety, reports The Daily Star.

Lewis opened up to Nicola as he struggled in Emmerdale(ITV)

Later in the episode, Vinny returned home to find Lewis resting on the sofa. The two friends shared a quiet moment over tea, during which Lewis opened up about how his autism sometimes feels too much to manage. “I had an incident at work, it's no big deal,” Lewis told Vinny, before going on to explain, “You know, when everything gets a bit too much, I’ve had it before, and it sometimes happens when I’m under pressure.” He further expressed, “I just can’t cope with everything coming at me. Noises, colours, even my own heartbeat. It’s like the whole world is amped up. My brain can’t cope with it, so it goes into some kind of shutdown.”

Lewis Barton experienced difficulty during Thursday's Emmerdale episode(ITV)

Vinny appeared shocked, admitting that he hadn’t realized the extent of Lewis’s struggles. The two then exchanged a meaningful look, which many fans felt was a hint of something deeper between the two characters. In a heartwarming gesture, Vinny immediately volunteered to care for his friend, preparing a meal as Lewis took some time to unwind on the sofa.

This tender moment has left many Emmerdale viewers rooting for a romance to develop between Lewis and Vinny. On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), fans were quick to share their excitement. One viewer asked, "Did anyone else catch a vibe off Vinny and Lewis?" Another confessed, "I’ve been quietly shipping Vinny and Lewis for a while now, but it’s time to stop being quiet because I think it’s finally happeninggg #emmerdale." A third fan wrote, "They are so setting up Lewis and Vinny, aren’t they? #Emmerdale."

Vinny Dingle was shocked to see Lewis struggling in Emmerdale(ITV)

Several fans also expressed their desire for a sweet and simple romance between the two, with one comment reading: "Anyone else shipping Lewis and Vinny? They would make the absolute cutest couple! (Yes, cuter than Robron). I want to see a soft, sweet, quiet gay couple just trotting about the village (let’s be real, that will never be #robron, there will always be some drama) #emmerdale."

As the storyline unfolds, it seems Emmerdale fans are hopeful that the bond between Lewis and Vinny will deepen, creating a heartwarming and tender romance for the soap opera. With their chemistry growing on screen, many are eager to see where this potential relationship might lead.