Bradley Riches, star of the Netflix show Heartstopper, has opened up about the constant challenges posed by his autism in the latest series of Celebrity Big Brother. Riches has sensory sensitivities which are a common characteristic of autism, and the bright lights in the Big Brother kitchen caused him particular discomfort. This led him to spend a lot of his time either outside or in the bathroom with fellow housemate David Potts. Riches also explained that he used earplugs to help him deal with the anxiety he felt at being cheered by crowds when he entered the house.
The lack of routine in the Big Brother house was another challenge for Riches, whose autism means that he feels anxious when faced with an environment that feels chaotic. By restructuring his day into a routine that he likened to a school timetable, he was able to tackle his time in the house. This technique allowed him to feel comfortable enough to let his housemates see him stimming, which is self-stimulatory behaviour that autistic people employ to process overwhelming or overstimulating feelings.
Riches has already filmed the third season of Heartstopper, which is due to be released in October, and has described the experience of being on the show as changing his life. He said that after being given a walk-on part in the first season, he was asked back to star as James McEwan in the second season. This led to him meeting “so many amazing people,” and the show allowed him to accept himself more as a person.
Acting was an escapism for Riches in his childhood, which allowed him to play characters that were very different from himself. This helped him to accept himself more and to use his voice as a form of communication. Riches said that taking acting classes boosted his confidence, which helped him to overcome his shyness and to use his voice as a means of communication
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