As Bear fades from his family’s reach, actor Joshua Richards reveals the devastating truth behind his character’s decline

A Glimpse… Then Gone Again

One haunting scene was all it took to break Emmerdale fans’ hearts. Young Eve Dingle spotted her granddad Bear Wolf in a nearby field—unkempt, gaunt, and heartbreakingly close. But when she told the adults, no one believed her. Mandy, Paddy, and the rest of the family remain convinced Bear is still missing.

What they don’t know is far worse than what they imagine.

Bear hasn’t just disappeared. He’s been broken—physically, emotionally, and mentally—by Ray Walters and Celia Daniels. Trapped in modern-day slavery on Celia’s farm, Bear has been isolated, abused, and manipulated into believing he has no one left but his captors.

Reprogrammed by Abuse

Actor Joshua Richards has revealed the chilling depth of Bear’s psychological condition. Cut off from the warmth of his son Paddy and granddaughter Eve, Bear has come to see Ray as a replacement.

“Because Bear feels somewhat rejected,” Richards explains, “Ray becomes a surrogate son. He’s lost. Adrift. Not in anybody’s club anymore—except Ray’s.”

The bond is not mutual. Ray, as Richards describes, is a master manipulator. Like with Dylan before him, he plays the role of protector and friend—only to weaponize trust for control. And Bear, vulnerable and broken, takes the bait.

Anya’s Death — The Final Blow

In the darkness of the farm, Bear did find one spark of light: Anya, a fellow prisoner. Her presence reminded him of Eve—pure, kind, and innocent.

But hope was short-lived.

Anya died from an untreated infection after trying to escape. When Bear discovered Ray had dumped her body in a feed shed, his world shattered again. Rage and sadness overtook him—but Ray’s grip ran too deep.

Despite everything, Bear almost forgave him. “It’s insidious,” Joshua said. “Ray convinces people they need him to survive.”

Bear’s Point of No Return

Fans hoping for Bear’s return to the village may need to prepare themselves. According to Joshua Richards, Bear’s decline is irreversible.

“I think he’s too far gone,” he revealed. “He’s confused, not well… possibly drug-addled. In his mind, he’s already walked out the door. He’ll never be coming back.”

It’s a harrowing end for a character once filled with joy, humour, and heart. And it mirrors a real-world issue that Richards passionately wants viewers to confront:
“There are 400 million people in modern-day slavery. It’s hiding in plain sight.”

A Story That Must Be Told

Emmerdale’s modern slavery storyline has shocked audiences, but it’s also sparked conversation—and that’s exactly what Richards hopes it will do.

“Why the hell don’t we do something about it?” he asks. “Isn’t it time we moved aside and reached out our hands to help?”