06 September 2023 , 13:47
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Emmerdale's Matthew Wolfenden has announced his next role and shared details of his ITV soap exit.
The actor, 43, broke down in tears on Wednesday's This Morning as he confirmed he is leaving Emmerdale after 17 years of playing David Metcalfe - after it was reported last month he was set to leave. Matthew also revealed his next role, announcing he will be playing Buddy in Elf The Musical at the Dominion Theatre over Christmas.
Matthew added it's been 18 years since he last sang as he was on the West End stage before joining Emmerdale, revealing he's having singing lessons ahead of the new role. The actor said there's a "tiny window" between the two jobs, revealing he finishes Emmerdale on the Friday and starts rehearsals on the Monday, adding: "Not a lot of time to think about it!"
Emmerdale favourite Matthew Wolfenden has confirmed he's leaving the ITV soap as David Metcalfe after 17 years after it was reported last month he was set to leave (ITV)Elsewhere in the chat, Matthew teased exit details for his character David, confirming that he will not be killed off. After watching his best bits on Emmerdale, Matthew got teary as he 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 will see."
Teasing his character's exit storyline, Matthew said there could be resolution between David and Victoria Sugden. He said: "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!"
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David has been at the centre of some huge plots over the years, including his partner Maya Stepney grooming and sexually abusing his then-teenage son Jacob Gallagher. David also battled testicular cancer in a hard-hitting storyline and nearly got killed off by village murderer Meena Jutla.
In 2022, Matthew's wife Charley, who played Debbie Dingle on the ITV soap for 19 years, appeared to confirm she would not be returning to the show. The actress will soon make her TV return in ITV drama The Long Shadow. Charley briefly returned as Debbie in 2021, after the character initially left in 2019.
Emmerdale airs weeknights at 7:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, with an hour-long episode on Thursdays.
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