bradley first appeared in charnham in april 2004, as the former boyfriend of melanie costello. bradley had taken a gap year in australia the year previous, and returned to the uk to live with his mother, sharon. chrissy, melanie's mother tried to get bradley and melanie back together, but ultimately failed as melanie was engaged to brendan boulter. bradley went on to date lucy day, one of melanie's friends who lived locally and began working for les boulter at the corner cafe.