It was thought that Bear Wolf had officially “left the stage” of Emmerdale after a series of tragic episodes, but unexpectedly, the phone call from the producer left Joshua Richards – who plays Bear – frozen.

“I thought I was fired,” he joked, “but it turns out they called to say: prepare to come back, and this time Bear is no longer the old Bear.”

This return not only surprised fans, but the whole Emmerdale village is also preparing to experience a real earthquake.

Bear – the man once loved for his honest, sincere appearance – now returns with a distant, quiet look, carrying a secret that everyone wants to know: “Where did you go while you were gone?”

Behind-the-scenes sources reveal that Bear will make a very cinematic return: one rainy afternoon, Paddy is closing up the shop when he finds his father standing outside, drenched, his face dirty but his gaze full of sadness. No words are spoken, only one sentence: “You don’t understand, Paddy.”

While it’s not clear why Bear disappeared, Emmerdale residents are beginning to whisper that he may have been involved in a shady organization, or a fatal accident that he’s trying to hide. Some believe Bear is taking the blame for someone else – perhaps Paddy himself or someone in the Dingle clan.

The most memorable scene, according to rumours, will be Bear sitting alone in The Woolpack, listening to an old song he and his wife used to dance to. The light shines on his face, lined and guilty – as if the past is punishing him.

Emmerdale has never been short of drama, but this time, viewers believe Bear is back not just to survive – but to make amends, or drag the whole village into a spiral of guilt. And that keeps viewers glued to their seats.