Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) has been missing from Emmerdale for weeks, and Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) has no clue where his dad really is.

Bear and Paddy’s relationship has been slowly breaking down over recently weeks as Bear has begun to experience behavioural and mood related problems.

Paddy’s patience has been tested, and he’s arrived at the conclusion Bear has dementia – an unofficial diagnosis not well received by Bear.

The nail in the coffin for their relationship was after Paddy’s near-death experience, Bear took the opportunity to tell his son what a loser he is.

It was the final straw for Paddy, who told Bear he wanted him gone.

Bear packed his bags and told everyone he was off to stay with his pal in Ireland, but viewers saw that his friend gave Bear the bad news that there was no room for him there.

So, Bear left on the pretence he had somewhere to go, but secretly had no plans and nowhere to stay.

Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) and Paddy think Bear is living it up in his pal’s spare room, but the truth is he’s anything but. And with his cognitive function seemingly impaired, he’s in a vulnerable state.

What Bear doesn’t realise is that his son needs him home. While he battles his newfound mental health battle, viewers see a glimpse of Bear, and it’s clear he’s nowhere close to coming home.

This is a big concern, and Paddy doesn’t even realise.

Actor Joshua Richards gave a hint at the heartbreaking storyline in store for poor Bear, and it’s not far from what Paddy himself has gone through.

‘He [Paddy] can’t put his finger on it even though he’s experienced it himself. That’s one part of the storyline that will be going on is that somewhere down the line, he’ll have to realise that he missed it,’ Joshua revealed.

‘That’ll be an important part of Paddy’s storyline as well.’