Emmerdale has never shied away from tackling hard-hitting storylines, but few recent arcs have cut as deeply—or resonated as powerfully—as the modern slavery plot

that ensnared Bear Wolf. Now, as the curtain falls on the chilling reign of Celia Daniels and Ray Walters, actor Joshua Richards has spoken with striking honesty

about the emotional toll of the storyline and the void left behind by the departure of his co-stars.

Joshua, who portrays Bear Wolf, has admitted he is “missing” colleagues Jaye Griffiths and Joe Absolom following their dramatic exit from the ITV soap. Their characters, Celia and Ray, were finally exposed and brought down after months of cruelty, manipulation, and exploitation—an ending viewers have been desperate to see.

In recent episodes, Bear’s storyline took an especially dark turn when the former wrestler disappeared from the village, leaving his son Paddy Kirk frantic with worry. What viewers later discovered was horrifying: Bear had fallen victim to a modern slavery operation run by Celia and her son Ray, who forced vulnerable individuals into brutal labour on their remote farm.

The storyline reached its most intense point when April Windsor and Dylan Penders—both survivors of Ray and Celia’s drug trafficking and forced sex work—took matters into their own hands. Determined to save Bear and reunite him with Paddy, the teenagers risked everything to break him free.

Joshua Richards has opned up about playing Bear Wolf in Emmerdale

In a tense and emotionally charged episode, April infiltrated the farm while Bear was repairing a chicken coop. She desperately urged him to escape, but the plan unravelled when Celia suddenly appeared. As April fled, Celia spotted her in the distance, but Bear courageously insisted he had not spoken to the teen. What followed was one of the most chilling moments in recent Emmerdale history, as Celia coldly ordered Ray to kill both April and Bear—confirming just how dangerous the pair truly were.

While viewers watched in horror, the cast delivered performances that many fans have called among the strongest the show has seen in years. And now, with Celia and Ray’s story concluded, Joshua Richards has reflected on the emotional aftermath—both on screen and off.

Speaking candidly, Joshua revealed that although viewers were desperate to see justice served, saying goodbye to his fellow actors was bittersweet.

Emmerdale’s Celia and Ray have been running a modern slavery scheme

“I think the viewers can’t wait,” he said, referencing the reaction he’s received from fans, friends, and family. “The feedback I’ve been getting from people in the streets is that they can’t wait for them to get their comeuppance.”

Joshua acknowledged that television offers a sense of moral closure that real life often denies. “We, as arbiters of what’s right and wrong on TV, can say, ‘Yes, we can end this now,’ because the viewing public is fed up with these people and the terrible acts they’re committing,” he explained. “But unfortunately, in society, you can’t do that. These people are always there, hovering in the darkness.”

Despite portraying characters viewers loved to hate, Joshua had nothing but praise for his co-stars. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with Joe Absolom and Jaye Griffiths,” he said warmly. “They’re both great actors, and I do miss them now that they’ve gone.”

He added that, from a storytelling perspective, their exit ultimately benefits the wider cast and village. “For the storyline, I think everybody in the village has nothing but benefits from their demise,” he said, underscoring the narrative necessity of their departure.

Beyond the drama, Joshua was keen to highlight the importance of the modern slavery storyline itself—one he believes has made a lasting impact on viewers. He praised the Emmerdale production team for their bravery and sensitivity in tackling such a disturbing subject.

“I think the job done by the producers, writers, and script editors has been outstanding,” he said. “To bring a story like this to the forefront—one that invites analysis and discussion—makes great sense for us as the general public. These things are happening under our noses, in plain sight, in modern Britain.”

Joshua Richards plays Bear Wolf in Emmerdale

Joshua did not shy away from the harsh reality behind the plot. “Modern slavery is alive and well, and it’s horrifying,” he said. “It was incredibly brave to bring this subject forward, and I’m intensely proud of what we’ve done as a team.”

He described the storyline as a massive collaborative effort, one that demanded emotional honesty and responsibility from everyone involved. “This is a subject that’s often brushed under the carpet,” he noted. “But Emmerdale brought it to the forefront of our minds.”

For viewers, Bear Wolf’s ordeal has been both devastating and eye-opening. His disappearance, captivity, and fight for survival have added new layers to his relationship with Paddy, setting the stage for powerful scenes still to come as father and son confront the trauma together.

As Emmerdale moves forward without Celia and Ray, their absence marks the end of a dark chapter—but not the end of its consequences. The emotional fallout will continue to ripple through the village, particularly for Bear, April, Dylan, and Paddy, whose lives have been forever altered.

Joshua Richards’ reflections serve as a poignant reminder that while villains may exit, the stories they leave behind matter. And in shining a light on modern slavery through compelling drama, Emmerdale has once again proven why it remains one of Britain’s most socially relevant soaps.