Paddy Kirk (Dominic Brunt) hasn’t always had a normal relationship with his dad in Emmerdale.

It was only a few years ago when Paddy discovered that he was the product of his mother’s passionate affair with a professional wrestler, the beardy legend that is Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards).

While Emmerdale’s loveable softy vet couldn’t be more different than his loud, gregarious dad, Paddy quickly embraced Bear as his father and the two got on like a house on fire.

Bear was there for the darkest times in Paddy’s life, including Chas’s infidelity, his subsequent depression and tragic suicide attempt.

Then earlier in the year, Bear started showing signs of erratic behaviour.  He became increasingly irritable, forgetful, and unpredictable, often lashing out at his son whenever a concerned Paddy tried to help.

Then during a particularly nasty row, Bear finally went too far when he exploded that Paddy was a doormat and no wonder Chas left him. Reaching the end of his rope, a hurt Paddy demanded that his dad leave. Bear had nowhere to go, but he was too proud to admit it.

So he left the village. While Paddy was still upset and angry, he became deeply concerned when he realised that his dad had vanished,

And we were left for Bear’s fate when they last saw him alone and confused in the country side, living in an abandoned car.

That is, until November, when Emmerdale shockingly revealed that Bear was alive but far from well, trapped on Butler’s farm forced into domestic slavery by people trafficker Celia (Jaye Griffiths) and her son Ray (Joe Absolom).

This week, Paddy gets a painful reminder of his father’s absence when Rhona (Zoe Henry) is shocked to realise that it’s Bear’s birthday.

Ever since their estrangement, Paddy has been emotionally distancing himself from his father and can’t forgive all the harsh things he said.

But remembering Bear’s birthday really gets to Paddy and leads him to make a heartbreaking admission to Rhona – he misses his dad.

If only Paddy knew that Bear was only down the road, at the mercy of Celia and Ray…