Emmerdale’s Bear Wolf could be set for a shock prison exit, according to soap fans.

Bear (Joshua Richards) has had a traumatic past 12 months on the ITV soap. Last year, he left the village to supposedly go visit some old friends in Ireland.

However, after weeks of hearing nothing from him, son Paddy (Dominic Brunt) became seriously worried as there had been no contact with his father since he left.

It was eventually revealed to viewers though that Bear was working as a slave on a farm, run by evil drug lord Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) and on Ray Walters (Joe Absolom).

Nonetheless, Ray and Celia’s crimes and cruel, exploitative business were eventually exposed but Ray ended up killing Celia in an attempt to get her out of his life for good

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Ray was then also killed off when Bear – who at the time viewers believed had died – showed up to protect Paddy and placed Ray in a chokehold before he slumped to the floor, lifeless.

Since then, Paddy has been trying his best to keep Bear away from the police and out of prison. However, in Friday’s bombshell episode (February 13) things took a dramatic turn.

During the instalment, a traumatised Bear was visited by a counsellor, but despite trying to keep his secret throughout the session, Bear ended up falling apart and confessing to killing Ray.

Later on, Paddy was heartbroken to see DS Walsh (Amanda Ryan) escorting Bear in handcuffs to the police car and revealed Bear had told the truth about Ray. Paddy ran over to the car and insisted to his dad that everything would be alright, before the car drove off.

Now, fans are convinced Bear is set for a prison exit, with one person writing on an Emmerdale Facebook fan page: “I was wondering with Bear confessing if this means he will be leaving?” Someone else added: “I think so, be so sad to get rid of him.” A third chimed in: “Same here, another very emotional episode.”

What’s more, spoilers for next week have confirmed that during his police interview, Bear confesses to DS Walsh that he killed Ray. Walsh gently questions a confused Bear, who struggles to recall details about Ray’s death but insists that he was alone and that it was an accident.

Marlon rushes into the station to comfort Paddy, who blames himself for the situation. Back in the interview room, DS Walsh pressures Bear about his slip of the tongue, but he insists that he acted alone. An agitated Bear insists he was the only one involved in Ray’s death.

Now back home, Paddy’s inconsolable and breaks down, fearing that he, Bear and Dylan will end up in prison. Marlon urges him to hold onto the hope that Bear’s actions will be recognised as self-defence and he will be released.

The next day, a confused Bear is questioned about his contradictory statements, Paddy repeatedly interrupts to support Bear’s story, leading DS Walsh to suggest Paddy might be involved with the murder.

Paddy begins to panic when DS Walsh is unable to believe that Bear moved Ray’s body alone. Paddy begins to spiral when DC Chen arrives and requests that both he and Dylan are interviewed at the station in the morning.

Bear is charged with manslaughter and Bear’s solicitor tries to reassure Paddy, reminding him that Bear acted in self-defence. Paddy is left encouraged to think Bear might get bail. However, when they try to encourage him to think strategically about his plea trial, fragile Bear’s determined to plead guilty and do the ‘honourable thing’.