Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards)

[Perdita]

Emmerdale is tagging a veteran of the Royal Shakespeare Company to get into the ring as Paddy Kirk's possible dad.



The bombshell was dropped by Mandy Dingle last week that Paddy's father may have been a wrestler known as the Bear Wolf — which obviously came as a huge shock to Marlon (Mark Charnock), Chas (Lucy Pargeter) and, of course, Paddy himself (Dominic Brunt).

In order to find out the truth, Marlon and Chas are going to convince Paddy to set off to a wrestling convention in Belfast so he can get answers from the Bear Wolf man-to-man!

The ageing pro wrestler will be played by accomplished RSC member Joshua Richards, whose impressive CV also includes A Very English Scandal, Panic Button and Troy.

"We are absolutely delighted to have an actor of Joshua's calibre join our show," producer Kate Brooks announced today (January 15). "An actor of immense talent and charisma, he's a brilliant addition to the Emmerdale team."

This storyline will see Paddy and select cast members filming on location in Northern Ireland, where they'll encounter the Bear Wolf… as well as the potential for a familiar face.

"I am delighted to be joining the cast of Emmerdale," Joshua said. "Having been based in Yorkshire for most of my life, it's fantastic to now be filming there too.

"Bear Wolf is a great character and I am looking forward to seeing what's in store for him."

The Bear Wolf will first be seen on screen beginning in February.


Digital Spy

[mrfreeman]

this is stupid

[tammyy2j]

this is stupid

I agree

[tammyy2j]

Thanks for spoilers Eddy.

I only have one thing to say about these spoilers that has confused me for a while - how was Bear originally found because of letters written to Paddys Mother, when he can’t read or write?

Yes a very good question, how?

[mrfreeman]

someone wrote it for him?

[tammyy2j]

someone wrote it for him?

Was it mentioned yet?

[Perdita]

https://metro.co.uk/2023/12/05/emmer...iiCkNl7l2Dj8rs

There could be a very surprising romance coming up in Emmerdale, as it appears that Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) has his eye on one of the villagers. But will she feel the same about him?

Since Bear came to the village in 2019 he hasn?t really been romantically linked with anyone else.

Last year, after Marlon (Mark Charnock) had his stroke, it was revealed that Bear had been secretly visiting him in hospital and Bear admitted that he was lonely.

Later in the year Bear formed an important part of Faith Dingle (Sally Dexter)?s final storyline, as he supported his friend in her dying weeks ? but while there might have been a bit of flirting (there was always a bit of flirting when Faith was around) there was no suggestion of romance for the two at that point.

In an attempt to cheer Paddy (Dominic Brunt) up after his split with Chas, Bear organised a double date for them with two women called Bev and Carol, a mother and daughter who were fans of Bear?s from his pro-wrestling days.

And more recently Bear got the wrong end of the stick in a big way when he got the idea that Mandy had romantic feelings towards him ? and he went in for a kiss. Poor Mandy was left red-faced, but not as red-faced as Bear when she told him it was actually Paddy that she was in love with.

But in upcoming episodes, Bear has again got a spring in his step ? and his house-mate Liam (Jonny McPherson) thinks he knows why.

Bear is attracted to Claudette Anderson (Flo Wilson).

[johntrevor]

https://metro.co.uk/2023/12/05/emmer...iiCkNl7l2Dj8rs

There could be a very surprising romance coming up in Emmerdale, as it appears that Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) has his eye on one of the villagers. But will she feel the same about him?

Since Bear came to the village in 2019 he hasn?t really been romantically linked with anyone else.

Last year, after Marlon (Mark Charnock) had his stroke, it was revealed that Bear had been secretly visiting him in hospital and Bear admitted that he was lonely.

Later in the year Bear formed an important part of Faith Dingle (Sally Dexter)?s final storyline, as he supported his friend in her dying weeks ? but while there might have been a bit of flirting (there was always a bit of flirting when Faith was around) there was no suggestion of romance for the two at that point.

In an attempt to cheer Paddy (Dominic Brunt) up after his split with Chas, Bear organised a double date for them with two women called Bev and Carol, a mother and daughter who were fans of Bear?s from his pro-wrestling days.

And more recently Bear got the wrong end of the stick in a big way when he got the idea that Mandy had romantic feelings towards him ? and he went in for a kiss. Poor Mandy was left red-faced, but not as red-faced as Bear when she told him it was actually Paddy that she was in love with.

But in upcoming episodes, Bear has again got a spring in his step ? and his house-mate Liam (Jonny McPherson) thinks he knows why.

Bear is attracted to Claudette Anderson (Flo Wilson).

OMG no, PLEASE scriptwriters don't go there not Claudette any one but her, change Mary into straight if you have to instead.

[lizann]

poor bear

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/emm...new-storyline/


Emmerdale star Joshua Richards has addressed his character Bear Wolf's big new storyline.

Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw recently revealed that Bear will "be in the spotlight" in the coming months for a "big storyline".

"He's going to go off screen for a little while, he's going to go missing," she explained. "And when he comes back, what you'll see is a very different Bear in a really different situation.

"We're all going to be watching and going, 'What the hell has happened here?' That's going to be really exciting."

While specifics are being kept under wraps for the time being, Richards has teased Bear's mood before he disappears.

"He's not too good for some reason, which we don't know why. So he's been slightly erratic emotionally and with his moods," he said.

"There are mood swings coming up for him, periods of forgetfulness, and maybe the kind of things that happened with a man of his age."

The actor was also asked how Bear is coping living with Paddy and Mandy, to which he said: "Not very well".

He continued: "It's a bit ambiguous, but I think he feels, as he's got older, he's got less of a role to play within society, and because he was quite a big thing in his time, he's become less and less of that.

"I think he'd accept that, but then to discover a son, to discover a whole new part of the family, then to be part of it, and then to feel that you are in the way as any rational human being would feel like with a new couple living with him in a new house.

"I think it upsets him and I think that's the catalyst for his erratic behaviour because he feels like there's nowhere he belongs.

"So that's the sad thing about it and I think that can be quite a major part of a lot of older people who happen to be living with younger family or with their offspring, that they feel that they shouldn't be there and they should be looking after themselves."

While Bear doesn't speak to Paddy and Mandy about how he's feeling, Richards said that the couple are "gradually becoming aware that something is very much wrong, but they can't put their finger on it".

"We always repeat our mistakes, history repeats itself, but the second time is fast, and it's happening again because all of Paddy's problems with this depression and his eventual attempted suicide may be occurring again right in front of his eyes, and he can't see," he added.

On the importance of tackling subjects like this, Richards said: "A serial drama like this is not just for decoration.

"It's to take on major issues that are affecting people, and what's amazing is that all of these things are taken on fearlessly and highlight things that are going on in the world that people would probably never hear about.

"So yes, I think it's vital. It's social conscience, and let's tackle these big issues and see if we can find a way to inform people about what's going on."