From third wheels to interfering family members, Emmerdale‘s Vinny Dingle and Lewis Barton’s romance gets off to a fun start next week. Even though it’s early days for the budding romance, their friendship-turned-flirtation has been on the cards for some time.

Ever since Lewis and his brother Ross Barton moved in with Vinny at Dale View, there’s been a growing connection between the young lads, which hasn’t gone unnoticed by Ross or Vinny’s best friend Kammy Hadiq.

When Inside Soap sit down with Bradley Johnson and Bradley Riches on our Valentine’s Day photoshoot to chat about their characters’ growing feelings and the potential of #Vinnis, they surprise us by revealing they’ve known about their big love story for well over a year!

“Their friendship stems into something new, something exciting. Vinny definitely realises there’s something more before Lewis does,” grins Riches.

“There’s no messing around for Vinny! He’s just got married, then got divorced! But he’s found connection straight away with Lewis,” jokes Johnson.

Vinny married Gabby Thomas just last year, but when he started to have doubts about his sexuality, they were unable to make the relationship work. Johnson teases that Vinny’s recent relationship could be an obstacle in his romance with Lewis.

“He’s scared to jump into a relationship so fast after Gabby,” he reveals. “He had his doubts about his sexuality and I think in the back of Vinny’s head he wants to take it slow and make sure it’s the right person.”

“When they start to explore the relationship, there are little moments where Lewis overthinks things,” Riches adds.

However, both actors tease that there’s a lot of excitement to come for the new Dales couple.

“There’s an episode where we may or may not kiss and it’s not as private as we’d like it to be,” Riches reveals.

“Lots of will they, won’t they – then ‘Thank God for that!’,” chimes in Johnson.