Emmerdale is set to air a standalone episode focusing on modern slavery, with long-running character Paddy Dingle becoming increasingly worried about his father Bear, played by Joshua Richards. The episode, produced in collaboration with The Salvation Army, will reveal Bear's descent into forced labour after being taken in by seemingly kind people.
Through flashbacks, viewers will witness how Bear, a former professional wrestler, was offered work in exchange for board and lodgings, only to become injured, frail, and entirely under the control of his captors. Richards expressed honour in participating, highlighting that slavery is 'happening under our very own noses' and preys on the disadvantaged and vulnerable.
The episode also features characters Ray Walters and Celia Daniels, played by Joe Absolom and Jaye Griffiths respectively. Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw noted the rural setting can harbour dark societal undercurrents, while The Salvation Army's Kathy Betteridge emphasised that forced labour is a widespread but hidden form of modern slavery in the UK.
