Emmerdale actor Joshua Richards has revealed that his character Bear Wolf faces a ‘painful’ journey ahead after killing Ray Walters. The three-hander episode featuring Bear, Paddy Kirk and Dylan Penders concluded the mystery of who killed Ray, with Bear delivering a fatal bear hug. Richards, who plays the anguished former slave, told Metro that Bear is now trapped by the legacy of his actions.
‘How he moves on I don’t know. It’s a painful process and I’m looking forward to the complexities with the writers and producers and the directors to find out where the journey goes next,’ Richards said. He added that Bear is ‘still not right’ and that recovery ‘will take some time.’ The actor noted that he has already filmed scenes where Bear shouts at Paddy, suggesting a return to his old self, but emphasised the ongoing struggle.
Richards also reflected on the fan reaction to Bear’s apparent death, which was a ruse. ‘I’ve had a few local people in my village who’ve come up to me and said, “Don’t you dare die! Don’t let Bear be dead or you’re going to be in big trouble,”’ he said. The actor described the response as ‘heartwarming’ and noted that viewers were devastated at the thought of losing the character.
Discussing the possibility of justice, Richards said: ‘Unfortunately for Bear, who doesn’t see himself as any kind of hero whatsoever, it’s just a terrible darkness within him which has opened up because of this act.’ He suggested that other characters, such as Moira Dingle, could take the blame for Bear’s accidental killing. Richards praised his co-stars Joe Absolom and Jaye Griffiths, who played Ray and Celia, calling them ‘wonderful professionals.’
