There’s been something bothering Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) on Emmerdale for quite a while now.

The usually gruff but generally genial former wrestling pro has been completely out of sorts – being horrible to Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt), prone to explosive anger outbursts and seeming to be very down.

‘There’s an element of confusion in Bear’s thinking,’ Joshua Richards confirmed, explaining that his character is suddenly feeling his age.

‘I think he’s lashing out because he feels vulnerable and a bit afraid,’ he said. ‘He’s a man who, in the past, has been incredibly physically strong and has earned his living from being fit and healthy. And he can fight. He still has that capability. But as you get older you question your viability to be the kind of person you were before, and therefore you become a vulnerable individual.

‘There’s no status any more, and I think status for somebody who was an athlete and someone who had a great deal of respect for his prowess in the ring suddenly has nothing. It’s called dignity. If you have no dignity you can start lashing out because you do feel vulnerable and you’re open to attack.’

Paddy and Mandy (Lisa Riley) have been left mystified by Bear’s behaviour and their attempts to help him have been thrown back at them.

The rift between father and son has been devastating, with bitter words being exchanged from both sides. In the wake of all this, Bear has left the village temporarily.

When he returns, he’ll be launched into a big new storyline, and Joshua is looking forward to the challenge.

‘I’m going to enjoy my summer holiday because I’m off to Wales tomorrow,’ he said, ‘But I’m really looking forward to coming back. I do love to work. I’m not mad on inactivity for long periods of time, as any actor is if one could be there doing something and having the great fun of taking on a major storyline. It’s exciting.’

Although the subject matter of the storyline is being kept under wraps, Joshua hinted that it will tackle ‘quite a major subject.’

He went on to say, ‘I’ve done something on this subject which I’m not going to say, but I did a play about it with John Godber a few years ago and it was riveting – quite profound and upsetting and also full of alarming facts.’