Emmerdale spoilers follow.

Emmerdale’s Paddy Dingle is left horrified next week as the truth about Ray Walters’s murder starts to spread further around the village. Dylan Penders makes a risky move by letting April Windsor in on the secret – so how long can Paddy keep vulnerable Bear out of prison?

Feeling the pressure of his deceit, Dylan cracks and offloads to April about who’s really responsible for bumping off Ray. Explaining how Bear accidentally strangled the dastardly drug dealer to death to save Paddy, Dylan is relieved to have shared the burden with somebody else – but Paddy is furious.

“April is now implicated,” sighs Dominic Brunt, who plays Paddy. “If it all comes out, she can be done for withholding information from the police. And it’s not just the fact it was supposed to be a secret between the three of them – will April want to tell Marlon and Rhona? It’s yet more unravelling.”

Once Dylan blabs, the atmosphere between him and disapproving Paddy is seriously strained. Bear feels even more unsettled as he picks up on the tension – and with emotions running high, he starts spiralling.

april windsor, bear wolf, emmerdale

ITV

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Exhausted April just wants this nightmare to end, so she suggests to Paddy that they come clean to the cops and tell them what happened – surely they’ll understand?

“Paddy’s not ready to go to the police,” admits Dominic. “Bear is too ill, he’s all over the place. Withdrawing from whatever drugs he was given has made him completely unstable.

“At the moment, Paddy is trying to save his dad from more psychological pain after what he’s just been through.”

Paddy shuts down April’s idea, pointing out that it would look like they were all involved in a conspiracy.

bear wolf, april windsor, emmerdale

ITV

Related: Emmerdale star explains Moira Dingle’s shock prison attack drama

With the hunt for Ray’s killer making headline news, Bear becomes increasingly aware of the precarious situation they’re all in – and that he is to blame.

Finding upset April, Bear tries to comfort the fragile teen as she admits she is worried she will eventually be charged with the crimes she was forced into committing.

Hearing April sharing her pain strikes a chord with Bear. After burying his guilt and being told to stay silent for weeks, Bear can’t take it anymore and finally talks about ending Ray’s life.

Supportive April insists Ray was a terrible person, but the mix of emotions is too much for Bear to cope with. Facing up to what he did, guilt-ridden Bear finally breaks down – but what will the consequences be?

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

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