Emmerdale's Matthew Wolfenden in tears as he announces exit after 18 years
The fan favourite teased his final storyline
A popular Emmerdale star has emotionally confirmed that he is set to leave the hit ITV soap after 18 years. Matthew Wolfenden announced that he is set to bow out of his role as David Metcalfe in an appearance on Wednesday's (6th September) This Morning.
The 43-year-old actor, who first joined the show back in 2006, broke down in tears as he confirmed rumours that he was set to leave and watched a montage of his best moments on Emmerdale.
After watching some of his highlights, Matthew said: "That made me really emotional! I am so nervous about leaving, nearly 20 years, almost two decades.
"It feels like the right time, the door has been left open - they're not killing me off, I've been promised. Who knows, I might be back in the future. Yeah, but we'll see."
Matthew then teared up again, struggling to speak as he said: "I'm still really emotional watching that."
He explained the significant role that the show has played in his life, including it being the place where he met his wife, Charley Webb, who played Debbie Dingle on the show.
The pair married in 2018 and have three children together - Buster, Bowie and Ace. Matthew added: "I met my wife on the show, we've had three kids, so not only has it given me 18 years of an amazing job, it's given me a family, so to leave it, it's been a big part of my life and the most wonderful 18 years."
Matthew went on to give fans a hint of what they can expect from his exit storyline, which involves his character's ex, Victoria Sugden. He added: "There is a resolution of sorts...I can't give too much away. Victoria is the reason why he leaves the village, put it that way! He leaves because of Victoria in a way. I can't give too much away!"
On the show, Matthew also announced his future plans, revealing that he will be playing Buddy in Elf The Musical at the Dominion Theatre over the Christmas period. He also went on to add that it has been 18 years since he last sang when he starred on the West End, and that he has been taking singing lessons in preparation for his new role.
Emmerdale airs at 7:30pm on weeknights on ITV1 and ITVX.
Take a look at some of the soap stars who have dated in real life:
Jeff Hordley and Zoe Henry
The Emmerdale couple and college sweethearts married in 2003, and now play Rhona Goskirk and Cain Dingle on the soap.
Status: Married
Charlie Clapham and Stephanie Davis
Charlie played Freddie Roscoe in Hollyoaks, and dated Stephanie Davis AKA Sinead O'Connor in 2014.
Status: Split
James Sutton and Sammy Winward
James Sutton currently stars in Hollyoaks as John Paul McQueen but formerly played Ryan Lamb in Emmerdale, where he had a brief romance with Sammy Winward AKA Katie Sugden in 2010.
Status: Split
Peter Amory and Claire King
Peter Amory AKA Chris Tate and Claire King, who played his stepmother Kim Tate on Emmerdale, were married for 10 years.
Status: Divorced
Samantha Giles and Peter Amory
But Claire wasn't the only co-star who caught Peter's eye, as he also dated Samantha Giles AKA Bernice Blackwood.
Status: Split
Jennifer James and Lee Boardman
Jennifer James and Lee Boardman met on the set of Coronation Street in 2000 whilst playing Geena Gregory and Jez Quigley. The co-stars married in 2001.
Status: Married
Chris Chittell and Lesley Dunlop
Emmerdale co-stars Chris Chittell, who plays Eric Pollard, and Lesley Dunlop, who plays Brenda Walker met on set and got married in Cornwall in 2016.
Status: Married
Alan Halsall and Lucy-Jo Hudson
Coronation Street co-stars Alan (Tyrone Dobbs) and Lucy-Jo (Katy Harris) married in 2009 and share daughter Sienna. After splitting in March 2016, the pair reunited, but in 2018 announced they were splitting for good.
Status: Split
Tisha Merry and Alan Halsall
Following the break down of his marriage to Lucy-Jo Hudson, Alan later started dating Tisha Merry, who used to play the role of Steph Britton on the soap. The couple announced they were dating in 2019 and later moved in together.
However, following a five-year romance, the pair split in February 2024, revealing the 'pressure got to them'.
Status: Split
Tina O'Brien and Ryan Thomas
Corrie couple Tina O'Brien (Sarah Louise Platt) and Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw) dated for six years and share daughter Scarlett.
Status: Split
Alfie Browne-Sykes and Amanda Clapham
Alfie Browne-Sykes and Amanda Clapham met whilst both starring on Hollyoaks as Jason Roscoe and Holly Cunningham. After six years of dating the pair split in 2020.
Status: Split
Nicole Barber-Lane and Liam Fox
Hollyoaks' McQueen matriarch Nicole and Liam, who plays Dan Spencer on Emmerdale, were married for 16 years but split in 2015.
Status: Split
Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan
Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan were Neighbours sweethearts, and fans across the world rooted for them to make it. Sadly, the co-stars split in 1989.
Status: Split
Emmett J. Scanlan and Claire Cooper
Hollyoaks' Emmett J. Scanlan AKA Brendan Brady and Claire Cooper AKA Jacqui McQueen tied the knot in January 2015. The couple have a son together called Ocean-Torin Scanlan. In June 2022, the couple announced they were expecting their second child together, with baby Fiáin-Luna born in November.
Status: Married
Nadia Sawalha and Marc Bannerman
Nadia Sawalha portrayed businesswoman Annie Palmer on EastEnders whilst Marc Bannerman played Gianni di Marco, and the EastEnders stars dated for three years.
Status: Split
Charlie Clapham and Tamara Wall
Charlie has also dated another of his co-stars - Tamara Wall AKA Grace Black.
Status: Split
Anna Passey and Nick Rhys
Hollyoaks stars Anna Passey AKA Sienna Blake and Nick Rhys AKA Lockie Campbell started dating in 2013, but sadly things didn't work out!
Status: Split
Matthew Wolfenden and Charley Webb
Matthew Wolfenden and Charley Webb met on Emmerdale, where Matthew played David Metcalfe and Charley starred as Debbie Dingle. They tied the knot in 2018 and share three sons.
However, in November 2023, the couple released a joint statement to confirm they have now split.
Status: Split
Claire Goose and Jonathan Kerrigan
Casualty co-stars Claire Goose (Tina Seabrook) and Jonathan Kerrigan (Sam Colloby) dated for several years.
Status: Split
Harley Bonner and Ariel Kaplan
Ariel Kaplan and Harley Bonner met on the set of Neighbours where they play twins Imogen Willis and Josh Willis. Sadly, they split in 2016 and both have new partners.
Status: Split
Chris Milligan and Jenna Rosenow
Chris Milligan and Jenna Rosenow also met on Neighbours, playing Kyle Canning and Amber Turner.
Status: Engaged
Daniel Brocklebank and Rob Mallard
Corrie actors Daniel Brocklebank (Billy Mayhew) and Rob Mallard (Daniel Osbourne) dated very briefly before ending their romance in July 2017.
Status: Split
Nadine Mulkerrin and Rory Douglas Speed
Hollyoaks actors Nadine Mulkerrin (Cleo McQueen) and Rory Douglas Speed (Joel Dexter) took their on-screen romance into real life! They even got engaged in December 2018 and welcomed a baby boy in 2019.
On Christmas Day in 2021, the pair confirmed they were expecting their second child together, welcoming Dougie James Speed in May 2022.
Status: Engaged
Daisy Wood-Davis and Luke Jerdy
Hollyoaks stars Daisy Wood-Davis (Kim Butterfield) and Luke Jerdy (Jesse Donovan) have been posting a lot of loved-up snaps together and announced their engagement in 2019. In May 2021 the pair confirmed they were expecting their first child together, later welcoming their son Asa.
The happy couple the got married in June 2022, and two years later announced they were expecting their second child together!
Status: Married
Sally Carman and Joe Duttine
Coronation Street stars Sally Carman and Joe Duttine announced they were dating in summer 2018, and in July 2022, the pair got married!
Status: Married
Sophie Porley and Adam Woodward
Hollyoaks actors Sophie Porley (Ellie Nightingale) and Adam Woodward (Brody Hudson) were together for two years but decided to call time on their relationship during the first lockdown.
Status: Split
Owen Warner and Stephanie Davis
After her on/off romance with Jeremy McConnell came to an end, Stephanie Davis returned to the cast of Hollyoaks and it didn't take long for her to announce she was dating co-star Owen Warner (Romeo Quinn). However, the pair split in 2019.
Status: Split
Mark Jordon and Laura Norton
Emmerdale's Mark Jordon AKA Daz Spencer and Laura Norton AKA Kerry Wyatt met on the set of Emmerdale and began dating in 2015. They announced their engagement on New Year's Day 2019 and in January 2021 welcomed their first child into the world, a baby boy.
In October 2022, the couple welcomed their second child, a baby girl called Ronnie.
Status: Engaged
Fiona Wade and Simon Cotton
Emmerdale's Fiona Wade, who plays Priya Sharma, announced in 2017 that she was dating someone, and when she posted a cryptic photo in the summer of 2018, many were sure that she was in a relationship with Simon Cotton, who had a small part on the soap in 2017. They also announced their engagement on New Year's Day 2019.
Status: Engaged
Anna Passey and Kyle Pryor
Following her split with Nicky Rhys, Anna Passey went public with co-star Kyle Pryor AKA Laurie Shelby in October 2019. They might have played sworn enemies on the show but love clearly blossomed on set.
Status: Dating
Natalie J Robb and Jonny McPherson
Emmerdale actors Natalie J Robb (Moira Barton) and Jonny McPherson (Dr Liam Cavanagh) appeared together in Zoom call during lockdown, confirming rumours that they have been dating since the start of the year.
However, reports suggested in June 2021 that the pair had split earlier in the year.
Status: Split
Kris Mochrie and Max Parker
Former Emmerdale co-stars Kris Mochrie and Max Parker played brothers on the soap, but they stayed in touch when Kris left his role and confirmed their romance with a romantic trip to Dubai in September 2020.
The couple then announced their engagement in January 2021, when Max popped the question!
Status: Engaged
Jemma Donovan and Owen Warner
After Jason Donovan's daughter Jemma joined the cast of Hollyoaks as Rayne Royce in January 2023, sparks were quick to fly with co-star Owen Warner, who plays the role of Romeo Nightingale. The pair confirmed they were dating in April 2023, looking smitten as they enjoyed a holiday in Mallorca.
Status: Dating
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