The heartbreaking storyline of Bear Wolf in Emmerdale came to a climax on Tuesday, December 30th, with Celia intending to end his life. It’s now been confirmed that she does, and will inform Ray of Bear’s death in episodes airing on New Year’s Day.
Joshua Richards, who plays Bear on the show, is leaving after a compelling storyline about modern slavery.
Leaving the show, he reflected on Bear’s storyline and praised the excellent work done in handling such a delicate and relevant topic.
He expressed his satisfaction with the story, explaining that bringing such an important issue to public attention felt meaningful. He believes it sparks crucial conversations about modern slavery, which is a hidden but very real problem in Britain today, and is deeply disturbing.
It took real courage for people to raise this important issue, and I’m incredibly proud of our team’s work. This was a major collaborative effort, tackling a topic that’s often ignored. They successfully brought it into the spotlight.
Richards explained that Bear was feeling unnecessary and outdated, and had become quite estranged from his family, even his son, Paddy.
He was asked if he could have returned to his former life, and he responded by saying he believes everyone deserves a chance. He quoted the saying ‘hope springs eternal,’ and explained that with the right support – things like care, love, and counseling – people can overcome difficult situations. He strongly believes that hope is always possible.
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Everyone is eager to see Celia and Ray face the consequences for their actions. Richards mentioned that based on conversations with people and his family, viewers are really looking forward to seeing them get what they deserve.
As those who decide what’s acceptable on television, ITV might feel it can stop this storyline now, believing viewers are tired of these characters and their awful actions. However, in real life, you can’t simply make problems disappear. These kinds of issues are always present, lurking beneath the surface.
I really loved working with Joe Absalom and Jaye Griffiths – they’re both fantastic actors, and I definitely miss having them on the show now that they’ve left. However, I believe their characters’ deaths ultimately served the story well and benefited everyone else in the village.
Joe Absolom, who plays Ray, is leaving the show. He reportedly filmed his last episodes in November.
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1. Stream on ITVX.
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Authors
James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the TV production company Fremantle. He has a BA degree in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a journalism diploma.
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2025-12-31 16:05