Emmerdale actor Bradley Riches and Scott Johnston said their honeymoon plans were thrown off when the Turkey hotel “vanished,” leading to a mini-moon in Portugal.
A honeymoon that was supposed to begin with Turkey sun and cocktails ended up rewritten last-minute after the hotel they planned to stay at “vanished.” Emmerdale star Bradley Riches. 24. and his new husband Scott Johnston. also 24. opened up about their wedding and the emotional detour that came shortly before their time together away from home.
The couple said they had been aiming for Turkey. but the plan was disrupted when the accommodation “basically disappeared. ” leaving them still unclear about what happened.. With the original booking gone. they decided on a “mini-moon in Portugal. ” describing it as a simple. rewarding reset filled with warmth. drinks. and uninterrupted time as a couple.
Their love story has been built over friendship and a shared turning point.. They said their bond started as a solid friendship before growing closer in 2020. when lockdown restrictions were lifted and they went on a real date.. From that moment, they told how both knew they had found something lasting.
As their relationship deepened, they continued to build their lives together while studying, living in Hitchin, Hertfordshire. Bradley also began to land major acting milestones along the way, including playing James McEwan in the Netflix series Heartstopper in 2022.
In 2024. their next chapter arrived after Bradley’s appearance on ITV’s Celebrity Big Brother. where he finished in sixth place.. The couple have now tied the knot after a wedding held in Lillibrooke Manor & Barns in Maidenhead. Berkshire. marking a fast-moving transition from planning and proposals to married life.
They also described the build-up to the ceremony in small details that made it feel personal rather than staged.. Scott recalled the journey down. highlighting the weather and the sense that everything aligned when they arrived. saying it was warm and they “got lucky.” Both chose matching Marc Darcy day suits. and the wedding included 14 bridesmaids between them.
Family and friendship were central to the day’s emotional tone. Bradley’s father, Julian, served as best man, while the wedding was filled with celebrity guests, reflecting the couple’s public and industry connections.
Among those in attendance were Bradley’s former Celebrity Big Brother housemates. Strictly’s Nikita Kuzmin. David Potts. ZeZe Millz. and former Corrie star Colson Smith. alongside Marisha Wallace.. The guest list also included Kelly Osbourne, whose mum Sharon had grown close to Bradley during the show.
Sharon’s presence carried meaning even from a distance. the couple said. explaining she was in LA because her son Jack had recently welcomed baby Ozzy.. Even so. she reportedly gave Bradley a first Claridge’s experience ahead of the wedding. which the couple described as “insane.” They also said Levi Roots sent a generous gift. and that Lisa Riley offered support while in New York.
The ceremony’s touches blended romance with their shared network. They chose rose buttonholes, made with help from Bradley’s co-star Katie Hill. For the first dance, they replayed Bruno Mars’ Count On Me, performed by their friend Nathan Johnston.
From there, the mood shifted into something bigger than a typical reception moment. Bradley said the dance quickly became a full-on party, with the energy changing as the group moved into dance mode and everyone joined in.
While the wedding felt star-studded, not every on-screen face could make the trip.. Bradley said many of the Emmerdale cast couldn’t attend because they were filming at the time.. That reality underlined how difficult it can be to coordinate major life events amid demanding schedules. especially when work keeps moving even as the celebration approaches.
After all the build-up—friendship becoming love. proposal and planning. and a wedding day that pulled together family. friends. and familiar names—the couple’s most recent disruption still points to the same theme: keeping the focus on each other.. Even when their Turkey honeymoon plan collapsed. they turned the change into time together. choosing Portugal as the place to land instead.
For viewers who’ve followed Bradley’s rise and the public spotlight around their relationship. the latest details show how celebrations can be shaped by chance as much as intention.. The “vanished” hotel may be unexplained. but the couple’s response—adapting quickly and making room for a quieter getaway—reframes the honeymoon story as one of resilience rather than disappointment.
Bradley Riches Emmerdale Scott Johnston honeymoon plans Turkey hotel vanished Portugal mini-moon wedding details