Sue Haasler
Published November 23, 2025 10:00pm
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Bear Wolf remains trapped (Picture: ITV)
There was a hugely poignant moment in a recent Emmerdale episode where little Eve Dingle (Bella James) was playing in a field at Butlers and spotted her granddad, Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards), in a neighbouring field.
Bear has been missing from home for months now, with his family totally unaware that he’s been ensnared by Ray (Joe Absolom) and Celia (Jaye Griffiths) and is working on Celia’s farm along with other people in conditions of modern day slavery, being subjected to manipulation, violence and extreme hardship.
The fact that his beloved granddaughter saw him, but Paddy (Dominic Brunt), Mandy (Lisa Riley) and the rest of the family who are desperate for some news of him didn’t believe her, highlighted the huge tragedy that he’s literally surrounded by people who genuinely love him, but he’s completely cut off from them.
Joshua Richards told us that Bear has transferred any feelings for his family to Ray, who is manipulating him the way he manipulated Dylan (Fred Kettle), by pretending to be his friend.
Ray found Bear living out of his car (Picture: ITV)
‘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 explained.
‘He’s somewhat lost and adrift. He’s not really part of anybody, he’s not in anybody’s club or team apart from, maybe, Ray.’
There was humanity even in the harsh conditions Bear found himself in, when he struck up a friendship with a woman called Anya (Alia Al-Shabibi).
‘I think there was a glimmer of light for him but it was almost like a reminder of little Eve, his granddaughter, that an almost innocent soul was shining in the darkness and he recognised it,’ Joshua reflected.
That glimmer of light was soon extinguished when Anya died from an infection as the result of wounds she received when she tried to escape. Bear’s trust in Ray was severely tested when he discovered that Ray had discarded Anya’s body in a feed shed.
Bear’s friend Anya died (Picture: ITV)
‘I think he’s absolutely horrified, because he’s been told by Ray – who he trusts with his life – that everything’s fine. I think initially he gets quite angry, disappointed and somewhat saddened. But because he’s been manipulated very heavily by Ray he almost forgives him,’ Joshua said, explaining the way Ray manipulated Bear and the others into trusting him.
‘It’s pointing out sometimes that your previous life was absolutely dreadful and aren’t things better now because you can trust me and I’ll look after you. It’s like giving a dog treats. It’s very clever manipulation and very insidious, that you can bit by bit instil in somebody that you’re needed by the for their very existence. Ray is very successful at doing that because he has a natural charm and he has an ability to get under people’s skin. ‘
Joshua told us he felt that modern day slavery was an important issue for Emmerdale to highlight and it’s something he feels very strongly about.
Ray and Celia force Bear to dig Anya’s grave (Picture: ITV)
‘There are, at any given time, 400 million people in modern day slavery and it’s hiding in plain sight,’ he pointed out. ‘Why the hell don’t we do something about it? Like all things in this world, it’s all about money. Isn’t it about time we moved aside and reached out our hands and helped people?’
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As for Bear, there are no signs that he’ll be rejoining his family in the village any time soon – if ever, according to Joshua.
‘I think Bear is going through a very difficult time in his life. I think he’s possibly confused, not very well and probably drug-addled and not knowing exactly where or what he’s doing.
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‘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.’
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