Weatherfield is live, and Emmerdale this week is a Category 15 storm.

The central character is none other than Bear Wolf – who was supposed to have left the village for Ireland, but it turns out the truth is much more horrifying.

Instead of “leaving for peace”, Bear was held, tricked, and almost lost his life in a ruthless modern slavery ring.

The story sent the whole of Emmerdale into a panic as the truth gradually emerged.

Bear left the village in silence, leaving Paddy, Marlon, and Moira bewildered because they had not received any contact. But they thought “he just needed time”. Who would have thought, Bear was lured to the farm of Ray Walters – who pretended to be a good person, offered free accommodation and easy work. The scam was so perfect that Bear was caught off guard. Within hours, Bear finds himself locked up, forced to work, injured but not treated.

A leaked scene from ITV sent shivers down the spine: Bear sits in a dark room, his hands wrapped in torn bandages, trying to open a wooden door that is locked from the outside. The camera pans down to his face – his eyes are blank, his mouth quivering slightly as if he is trying to call for help but no one is listening. Truly dark Emmerdale.

Paddy, who is the most sensitive, begins to suspect when Bear does not respond to messages. Marlon chimes in: “I don’t think he’s going to Ireland.” Moira checks the lease and discovers Ray is renting a farm near the village. The three begin to pick up clues – and it’s at this point that the truth hits them in the face.

The rescue of Bear is later revealed to be extremely dramatic. Paddy rushes into the farm, shouting his father’s name, Ray stands blocking the door with a cold face. In a flash, Ray grabbed Paddy by the collar and growled, “He doesn’t want to see you.” But Bear’s frightened eyes through the small window said it all.

When Bear was brought out, he was exhausted, shaking, but still holding Paddy’s hand as his only lifeline. And his first words:
“They said I can’t come back to Emmerdale…”

A sentence that was enough to send the whole village into a state of alarm. And according to the spoiler, Bear, when he returns, will “never be the same person again”.