Emmerdale spoilers follow.

Emmerdale’s Bear Wolf is finally charged over Ray Walters’ death next week, after he admits to DS Walsh that he’s a killer. While being questioned at the police station, Bear reveals to Walsh that he was responsible for bringing Ray’s reign of terror to an end.

Following this breakthrough in the police investigation, Bear is officially charged with manslaughter. But can Paddy talk his dad out of pleading guilty?

“Bear could well be sent down for this,” our Emmerdale source reveals. “Now he’s been charged with manslaughter, the odds are stacked against him.

“Bear’s solicitor reminds Paddy that his dad acted in self-defence so he might get bail, but all hope vanishes when Bear admits that he’s set on entering a guilty plea…”

bear, emmerdale

ITV

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During Bear’s initial confession, DS Walsh senses her interviewee’s confusion and gently asks him for more detail.

In response, Bear struggles to recount the events that led to Ray’s demise, while remaining adamant that he acted alone and that the death was purely accidental. Will DS Walsh believe Bear’s unlikely story?

Meanwhile, Marlon Dingle rushes to the station to comfort Paddy, who believes that he is to blame for his dad’s predicament.

With the police interview still going, DS Walsh quizzes Bear over a slip of the tongue, but the granddad doubles down on his false claim that he was alone at the time of Ray’s death.

paddy kirk, bear wolf, emmerdale

ITV

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Back home, Paddy is beside himself at the idea that he, Bear and Dylan could all be locked up, but Marlon urges his best mate to remain hopeful that his dad could be freed as he acted in self-defence.

The next day, Bear returns to the interview room, where he is grilled on his contradictory statements. On multiple occasions, Paddy butts in to vouch for his dad, which convinces DS Walsh that he too could be implicated in Ray’s murder.

“Paddy practically drops himself in it,” our spy continues. “This interview is far from DS Walsh’s first rodeo, so she can see that Paddy’s constant interruptions are a sign of something fishy.

“And things go from bad to worse for Paddy when DS Walsh suggests that Bear couldn’t have moved Ray’s body by himself. Bit by bit, it looks as though DS Walsh is slowly piecing it all together…”

paddy kirk, bear wolf, emmerdale

ITV

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Later in the week, Bear’s solicitor tries to calm Paddy down by reminding him that Ray’s death was self-defence. Reassured, Paddy allows himself to believe that his dad might be able to secure bail, but Bear dashes all his hopes when he declares that he is going to plead guilty.

With Bear set on his decision, will Paddy lose his dad to prison? And if so, how would fragile Bear cope with being banged up?

Emmerdale is working on Bear’s storyline alongside The Salvation Army and Unseen. Further help, support and resources relating to the issue of modern slavery are available on the charities’ websites.

Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 8pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.

Read more Emmerdale spoilers on our dedicated homepage

For exclusive soap star interviews, gossip, spoilers and theories every week, don’t miss the Soap Scoop podcast from Inside Soap magazine. The latest episode delves into next week’s soap spoilers, from Robert’s feud with Joe in Emmerdale, to Carl’s dangerous new plan in Coronation Street.