Copyright belfastlive
ITV soap Emmerdale has finally revealed the whereabouts of Bear Wolf after months of absence. A special stand-alone episode, set to air on Monday (November 10), will delve into the sinister world of modern slavery. When Paddy Dingle (Dominic Brunt) realises his father, Bear (Joshua Richards), never made it to Ireland, he grows increasingly concerned. After not hearing from his father for months following a period of tension, Paddy is desperate to find him and make amends. As Paddy begins his search, Emmerdale will expose Bear's horrific situation, shedding light on the plight of those forgotten by society. If only Paddy knew how close, yet so far, his father truly was, reports the Daily Star . Bear, once a family man and fighter, now lives on the fringes of society, physically close to his old life in Emmerdale. However, his circumstances lead him to believe he is a million miles away from reconnecting with his family and past. Through flashbacks, we see how Bear was initially taken in by seemingly kind individuals, offered "work" in exchange for room and board. It quickly becomes apparent that this is manipulation at its most severe. Under their control, Bear finds himself unable to envision life beyond his current existence. Soon, he is injured, frail, and entirely at the mercy of his captors. Bear has never been more alone. This episode aims to highlight the tragically common reality of modern slavery lurking on the peripheries of our society - unseen and unsuspected. Speaking about his experience filming this special episode, Joshua Richards, who portrays Bear, said: "It may surprise many people, but slavery is alive and well, indeed prospering in the modern world. "Not only in obscure countries and cultures that we know little about, and not just the exploitation of migrants by criminal gangs of which some of us are aware. "It is happening under our very own noses. The disadvantaged, dispossessed, those with mental health issues or disabilities, the old, lonely and vulnerable people that our society neglect are the perfect prey for grooming by unscrupulous criminal agencies. "I'm very excited and honoured to be taking part in this to hopefully educate and highlight this abominable trade of human bondage." Laura Shaw, Emmerdale Producer, added: "With our farming and rural backdrop we have an ideal setting, but it's not all fluffy sheep and rolling landscapes. "The countryside, just like an urban setting, can harbour the dark undercurrents of society. When Ray Walters and Celia Daniels first came to Emmerdale it was clear that both characters were not to be trusted. "We have seen their manipulation of April Windsor and Dylan Penders, but this special stand alone episode featuring Bear ensnared in Modern Slavery, highlights the cruelty and control that these slave masters can exhibit. "Bear is truly trapped in his situation and over a series of scenes you begin to understand a little more how this happened." She went on to say: "I don't think the audience will ever like the character of Ray but hopefully there will be glimmers within this episode that make you realise he too is perhaps trapped in a world not of his making. "We have been extremely grateful for the support we have received from The Salvation Army for Bear's story but also the interlinked county lines drug story that we have been telling with April and Dylan. "The Salvation Army has given Emmerdale invaluable help with the portrayal of these shocking, yet prevalent situations in our society." Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV1 at 7.30pm and available to stream from 7am on ITVX
