Emmerdale Star Matthew Wolfenden Reveals Strict Backstage Rule Led to His Exit After 18 Years

Matthew Wolfenden, known for his role as David Metcalfe on Emmerdale, recently disclosed the backstage rule that prompted him to leave the show after nearly two decades. His departure was announced in August 2023, with his final scenes airing in April the following year.

Strict 'No Panto Rule'

Wolfenden shared that he made the decision to exit Emmerdale in the summer of 2023 after being offered a lead role in Elf the musical in London’s West End. Despite considering a break, the soap's strict policy against participating in pantomimes influenced his choice to leave.

Speaking to The Celeb Report Online, Wolfenden explained, "The problem is they don’t let people out at Christmas to do panto... My contract was coming to an end and I had this big decision to make."

Leaving to Pursue Musical Theatre

Reflecting on his departure, Wolfenden expressed his desire to explore more opportunities in musical theatre. He mentioned, "It was always a thing for me that I wanted to go back to musical theatre, or do some plays. So I bit the bullet."

Despite leaving the door open for a potential return to Emmerdale, Wolfenden expressed his enthusiasm for branching out into different artistic realms.

Embracing New Horizons

While acknowledging his fondness for Emmerdale and its cast, Wolfenden highlighted his eagerness to venture into new creative territories. His decision to depart the long-running show was driven by a desire to expand his acting horizons.

Emmerdale's policy against cast members participating in pantomimes and other theatrical productions played a pivotal role in Wolfenden's departure, leading him to choose a path beyond the soap opera.