Emmerdale star Joshua Richards has ruled out a fan theory concerning his character Bear Wolf.

Viewers of the ITV soap have seen the character display a number of worrying behaviour patterns of late.

He’s lashed out at son Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt), and has suffered a number of angry outbursts. His general demeanour just seems a little… off.

The rift between father and son has been devastating, so much so that Bear has decided to leave Tenant’s Cottage and indeed the village.

Planning to visit Ireland, his trip falls through – but still decides to go. But where to?

‘I think the dynamic in Tenants Cottage has changed because Mandy has moved in,’ Joshua told us.

‘Bear’s probably thinking, “Hang on a minute, this is my son trying to get a life together with his new bride and I’m in the way.”

‘That’s in his mind. I don’t think it’s in Paddy’s or Mandy’s minds but it’s something he introduces as a sort of ghost at the feast.’

Upon his return, he’ll be launched into a huge new storyline, with fans already speculating what that might be. Some have questioned whether he could be suffering from a medical condition.

‘I think he’s too humiliated to go back. It’s more than just humiliation, it’s the confusion of”‘Who am I? What’s my purpose in life and what do I do?”,’ he explained.

‘To have a revelation at that age – because he’s 78 – is a big thing.

‘Luckily there’s no dementia, but he’s like somebody with dementia stumbling off into the countryside, not knowing who they are or where they’re going or what their purpose in life is.’

So if Bear hasn’t got dementia, exactly what is wrong?

Whatever it is, Joshua is excited to work on the plot.

‘I do love to work,’ he tells us.

‘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.