'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

It's been almost four months since Emmerdale's Bear Wolf was last on screen, with Paddy Kirk's father vanishing as part of a top-secret storyline. As the troubled character finally returns next week in a harrowing special episode, actor Joshua Richards says fans will be “furious” when they finally find out what has been going on.

The last time Bear was in the village he was suffering from mood swings, forgetfulness and appeared depressed, before a bust-up with his son led to him taking some time away. But when Paddy realised that his father never made it to Ireland back in July, it dawned on him that something horrifying may have happened.

Joshua, 66, reveals the standalone episode will flash back to the moment he fled in his car. It's explained that Bear is at the centre of a modern slavery storyline, and Joshua says that anyone can be exploited, even a “strong” character like his own.