After 17 years on the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, Matthew Wolfenden has quit the show.
Since 2006, the 43-year-old actor has portrayed shopkeeper David Metcalfe, but he has supposedly chosen to depart since his character doesn’t have enough grimy plots.
According to a source, “Matthew has had a fantastic experience on the soap, but is ready for a change.”
He wants to explore what else is available because he hasn’t recently been receiving any tough narratives.
He has previously been the focal point of pivotal storylines, such as his former lover Maya Stepney (Louisa Clein) grooming his adolescent son Jacob Gallagher (Joe-Warren Plant), and becoming the target of a terrifying gun siege.
He has just recently announced his departure, therefore screenwriters are still planning his on-screen farewell, they continued to The Sun. It’s probable that David won’t make it.
Matthew previously took a sabbatical from the programme in 2021 as a result of a rumoured backstage argument and allegations of racial remarks among the group.
After a major dramatic incident in which he was nearly drowned in rapids, his character disappeared.
Victoria Barton’s love interest Isabel Hodgins also quit filming as the show’s producers grappled with unrest behind the scenes.
ITV has conducted a detailed investigation into the claims made, with witness statements obtained, a source subsequently informed The Sun on Sunday.
The bosses decided that Matthew and Isabel can resume their jobs after hearing their justification.
In 2021, Charley Webb, his wife, also left the soap opera.
The expansion of Charley’s acting career outside of her Debbie Dingle character on Emmerdale is something she is embracing.
With her new role in Quiz, the actress will go from acting on television to stage work.
James Graham’s drama is on Diana and Charles Ingram, who are accused of trying to cheat on ITV’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire by coughing to indicate the right response.
Charley will play a police officer in ITV’s The Long Shadow, which chronicles the life of The Yorkshire Ripper, also known as Peter Sutcliffe, later this year.
Buster, Bowie, and Ace, the couple’s three boys, keep Charley very busy. Charley and Matthew were married in 2018.
ITV was approached by Metro.co.uk for comment.
