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Emmerdale has finally revealed the whereabouts of Bear Wolf after months of absence from the ITV soap . In a special stand-alone episode set to air on Monday (November 10), viewers will be taken into the dark world of modern slavery. Paddy Dingle, played by Dominic Brunt, becomes increasingly concerned when he realises his father, Bear (Joshua Richards), never made it to Ireland as planned. After months of silence following a period of tension, Paddy is desperate to find his father and make amends. As Paddy begins his search, Emmerdale will expose the shocking conditions Bear has been living in, shedding light on the struggles of those overlooked by society. Little does Paddy know how close yet so far away his father really is, 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 but feeling a million miles away due to his circumstances. Through a series of flashbacks, we see how Bear was initially taken in by seemingly kind individuals who offered him "work" in exchange for room and board. However, it soon becomes apparent that this is manipulation at its most severe. Under their control, Bear finds himself unable to envision a life beyond his current existence. Before long, he is injured, weak, and completely at the mercy of his captors. Bear has never felt more alone. This episode aims to highlight the tragically common reality of modern slavery that lurks unnoticed on the peripheries of our society. Joshua Richards, who portrays Bear in the show, opened up about his experience filming this special episode. He 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." Emmerdale's producer, Laura Shaw, also chimed in: "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
