Emmerdale’s Bear actor warns ‘the horror continues’ as he addresses exit fears
Emmerdale's Bear Wolf actor Joshua Richards has shared his thoughts on how the Ray Walters storyline ended, and whether it could lead to his exit from the ITV soap
One Emmerdale star has addressed their future on the ITV soap after a killer twist(Image: ITV)
One Emmerdale star has addressed their future on the ITV soap after a killer twist, as he warned the “horror continues”.
Bear Wolf actor Joshua Richards has revealed his reaction to the end of the human trafficking storyline, that saw villain Ray Walters killed off. It was confirmed in flashbacks that Bear accidentally killed Ray after he tried to murder his son Paddy Dingle, and teenager Dylan Penders.
Bear is struggling to hide his killer secret and in upcoming episodes, he finally confesses. Now, actor Joshua has addressed his reaction to the plot and the killing of Ray, addressing whether it was the right move for the soap.
Speaking to The Mirror he also teased his future on the show, and whether an exit could be on the cards. He said: “I found it quite interesting and exciting that the storyline would bring such a horrendous misuse of somebody to such a dramatic conclusion, where the abuser actually does formulate the demise of the abuser.
Bear Wolf actor Joshua Richards has revealed his reaction to the end of the human trafficking storyline, that saw villain Ray Walters killed off(Image: ITV)
“I think there is some poetic justice in it. But then again, it also sets another dilemma, of course, because this isn’t the end of the horror. Horror continues.” On whether he feared he would have to leave the show, he confessed: “Yeah, I had a good chat with [producer] Laura last year, in June or July.
“She told me that this would be quite an extended storyline that would take us all over the place, especially into being held at His Majesty’s pleasure. So I did know the extent of the story.”
Joshua said Bear is still coming to terms with his killer actions. He explained: “I think he’s in shock, to be honest. And not knowing what to do with his emotions.
“In fact, even blanking off the outside world, because he doesn’t know how to deal with it. I think that’s the dilemma he has. He’s been through such a traumatic time, and then for it to suddenly explode into this utter confusion and horror, where he’s actually lost total control of who he is.
Emmerdale’s Bear Wolf actor Joshua Richards has shared his thoughts on how the Ray Walters storyline ended(Image: ITV)
“And then to come around and realise what he’s actually done is quite a body blow, as it would be for anybody.” The star also explained Bear’s insistence on confessing, despite Paddy trying to cover it up.
He shared: “I think he has this mistaken sense of honour, and that he’s got to own up to what he did, even though he was totally unaware of what he did at the time he was doing it. And it’s just this old-fashioned sort of ‘Well, I did it, therefore I should take the consequences.’
“It’s misguided and wrong, but he firmly believes that that’s the honourable thing to do. In his mind, taking a life is taking a life, it’s a life for a life. Even if it was in self-defence, not in the right frame of mind, in fact, almost being a victim of a nervous breakdown and being practically insane at the time, he still believes that he should take the consequences.”
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
