An Emmerdale star has delivered a devastating update on the future of fan-favourite character Bear Wolf, suggesting his return to the village is now highly unlikely.
A Heartbreaking Separation
In upcoming episodes of the ITV soap, Bear Wolf, played by Joshua Richards, will discover that Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) and Ray Walters (Joe Absolom) plan to abandon the village. This leaves Bear, who has been trapped in a modern slavery situation on Celia's farm for months, fearing for his own fate.
The tragedy of his isolation was recently underscored in a poignant scene where his young granddaughter, Eve Dingle (Bella James), spotted him in a field near Butlers. Despite her claims, her family, including desperate father Paddy (Dominic Brunt) and Mandy (Lisa Riley), did not believe her, leaving Bear cut off from those who love him.
Manipulation and a False Bond
Joshua Richards explained that Bear has tragically transferred his familial feelings to his manipulator, Ray. 'Because Bear has taken himself away from the love of his son and his family, he feels somewhere within him, because he feels somewhat rejected, that Ray is a surrogate son for him,' the actor revealed.
He described Bear as 'lost and adrift,' belonging to no one's team except, perhaps, Ray's. A brief glimmer of hope appeared when Bear befriended a fellow captive named Anya (Alia Al-Shabibi), whom Richards said reminded him of his granddaughter. However, that hope was brutally extinguished when Anya died from an infection after a failed escape attempt.
Bear's trust in Ray was shattered upon discovering Ray had callously discarded Anya's body. 'I think he's absolutely horrified,' Richards stated, noting that Bear's heavy manipulation leads him to almost forgive Ray, despite his anger and sadness.
Highlighting a Hidden Crisis
Richards emphasised the importance of Emmerdale tackling the subject of modern slavery, an issue he feels passionately about. He pointed out the staggering scale of the problem, stating, 'There are, at any given time, 400 million people in modern day slavery and it's hiding in plain sight.'
He criticised the inaction surrounding the crisis, attributing it to financial motives, and posed a powerful question: 'Isn't it about time we moved aside and reached out our hands and helped people?'
A Character 'Too Far Gone'
As for Bear's future, the outlook is bleak. Richards suggested a reunion with the Dingles is not on the horizon. He believes Bear is 'confused, not very well and probably drug-addled' after his ordeal.
In a final, sombre assessment, the actor concluded: 'I think he's too far gone at this point. He's decided in his mind that he's already walked out of the door and he'll never be coming back.'
This article is based on an interview originally published on November 23, 2025.
