'It's fascinating how these things happen'

Joshua Richards on the shocking reason behind Bear's absence from the village

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Bear's disappearance followed a bust-up with son Paddy

The topic isn't new to Joshua, he appeared in a play in 2007 called Sold which focused on modern slavery.

He now hopes the storyline has a similar impact to ITV's Mr Bates vs The Post Office, which shone an international light on the British Post Office scandal. "I think that soaps do have a responsibility to educate and show things you may not necessarily see on the main news," Joshua says.

"I think it's our job to do that and I'm very proud to be part of what ITV is doing with these wonderful writers and the great research which has gone on.

Maybe it will prompt something and there will be action."