Emmerdale star Joshua Richards has opened up about his character Bear Wolf's future on the long-running ITV soap, following the character's shocking and dramatic return to screens. Bear, played by Richards since 2019, was recently at the centre of a harrowing modern-day slavery storyline that left viewers believing he had been killed.
A Shocking Survival and Dramatic Rescue
In recent episodes, Bear Wolf was revealed to be alive after villainous Celia Daniels, portrayed by Jaye Griffiths, had falsely claimed she murdered him. The truth emerged during last Thursday's episode when Bear dramatically intervened to rescue his son Paddy Dingle, played by Dominic Brunt, and Dylan Penders, portrayed by Fred Kettle.
The rescue occurred during a tense confrontation where criminal Ray, played by Joe Absolom, had trapped both Paddy and Dylan in their living room. Despite pleas from the captives to stop, Bear attacked and ultimately killed Ray in a surprise intervention that saved both men's lives.
Covering Up the Killing and Future Complications
Since the dramatic events, Paddy and Dylan have been helping Bear cover up the killing, raising questions about whether they can keep this secret hidden from the authorities and other villagers. Speaking exclusively to Metro, Joshua Richards discussed where Bear's storyline is heading next and what this means for his continued role in Emmerdale.
The actor shared insights into his character's emotional journey, stating: 'How he moves on I don't know. It's a painful process and I'm looking forward to the complexities with the writers and producers and the directors to find out where the journey goes next and what pathways we're going to go down.'
Returning to Old Habits and Complex Relationships
Richards revealed that filming has already begun on new material, noting: 'We've just been filming stuff already today and I've been shouting at Paddy. So maybe he's getting back to his old self if he's shouting at people! But he's still not right and this will take some time.'
The actor elaborated on the evolving relationship between Bear and Paddy, describing it as: 'an ongoing one – sometimes tenuous, sometimes loving, sometimes difficult, sometimes exhilarating.' He expressed his appreciation for working with Dominic Brunt, adding: 'I'm so fortunate to be having the pleasure and honour of working with the wonderful Dominic Brunt.'
Background and Character Development
Joshua Richards first joined Emmerdale in 2019 for a storyline where Paddy Dingle discovered that the famous wrestler Bear Wolf was his biological father. Last summer, Bear appeared to leave the village to spend time with friends in Ireland, but a shocking twist months later revealed he had actually been enslaved by Celia and Ray.
In preparation for the challenging modern slavery storyline, Richards conducted extensive research, including speaking with the Salvation Army and meeting people who had experienced similar situations. He explained his approach to understanding the character's vulnerability: 'After talking to my sister in great depth, who's been watching this storyline, it put her in mind of my late father, who, in his later years, actually did suffer a similar kind of depression.'
Addressing Important Social Issues
The actor emphasised the importance of the modern slavery storyline, warning viewers: 'A lot of people say, well, I'd never be scammed, for instance, online. But so many people are and they are intelligent and bright. That is what we've got to be aware of in this modern-day society.'
Richards praised the soap's handling of the sensitive subject matter, describing it as 'outstanding' and noting: 'Modern slavery is alive and well, and it's horrifying. I think it was very brave for people for them to bring this subject forward and I'm intensely proud of what we, as a team, have done.'
Hope and Recovery
Despite the desperate nature of Bear's recent experiences, Richards expressed optimism about recovery possibilities for those in similar situations. He stressed: 'there's always hope' for anyone finding themselves in a bad state of mind, provided they receive appropriate help and support.
The actor's comments highlight the emotional complexity of Bear Wolf's journey and suggest significant developments ahead for the character as he navigates the aftermath of his traumatic experiences and the consequences of his recent actions.
