SOAP legend Matthew Wolfenden is leaving his life in the Dales behind after 17 years on our screens.
The Emmerdale actor reportedly blames the lack of gritty storylines. Get the lowdown on him and his role on ITV.
Matthew Wolfenden first joined the Emmerdale line-up in 2006
Who is Matthew Wolfenden?
Matthew Wolfenden was born in Norwood Green, West Yorkshire, on May 5, 1980.
He has one younger brother, David Wolfenden but not much else if known about his family life.
Prior to his acting career, Matthew was a member of the British gymnastics squad until the age of 16 but a horrific fall led him to break his back.
Matthew was unable to continue the sport and turned to acting as a result.
He kicked off his career by being cast in the musical Saturday Night Fever.
While most known for Emmerdale, he has also taken part in Hollyoaks spin-off, Let Loose, and had a one-off part in drama The Courtroom.
Matthew also appeared on reality show Dancing on Ice in 2012, and edged out Hollyoaks beauty Jorgie Porter to win the competition.
He also stripped off for charity in the 2017’s The Real Full Monty.
Who does Matthew Wolfenden play in Emmerdale?
Matthew has played David Metcalfe – the son of long-running regular character Eric Pollard – since 2006.
The actor was announced to have quit his role after 17 years due to a lack of “gritty storylines”, two years after a race row probe which led him to vanish from our screens for four months alongside Victoria Sugden star Isabel Hodgins.
Soap bosses are working out how his exit will play out and it could be a permanent ending as David Metcalfe runs the risk of being killed off.
During his time on the show, the village shopkeeper has been part of a series of high-profile storylines, including one on testicular cancer and how to spot it in 2016.
He also helped his on-screen dad deal with the grief of the loss of his wife, Val.
His character has been married twice – once to Alicia Gallagher and once to Tracy Shankley.
In February 2018, he and Tracy were involved in a big storyline, where she was blackmailed by an old client over a sex tape.
He failed to support her, and then cheated on her with Leyla Harding, leading Tracy to end their marriage.
David is the father of three-year-old Amba, following a relationship with Priya Sharma in 2013.
Throughout his years in the Yorkshire-based drama, David has had a habit of breaking hearts – he was most recently involved with Victoria Sugden but she called it quits when he submitted her name for a speeding fine he had received.
He also escaped a bleak fate by ending his tumultuous relationship with Emmerdale serial killer Meena Jutla.
But while he’s known as a success with the ladies, Matthew only has eyes for one woman off-screen.
Is Matthew Wolfenden married?
On February 19, 2018, it was revealed that Matthew had married her Emmerdale co-star Charley Webb who he met on set.
The pair didn’t even tell guests they were getting married and instead told them they were attending Charley‘s 30th birthday party.
Their 100 guests arrived at Ripley Castle in Harrogate where they were told the surprise news that they would be getting married instead.
Their first child, a boy called Buster was born in April 2010 and in December 2015 their second son Bowie was born.
They welcomed their third son on July 26, 2019.
The couple briefly split in August 2013 but were reconciled the following year.
When did Matthew Wolfenden win Dancing on Ice?
Matthew proved there’s no end to his talents after skating to victory on Dancing on Ice.
Taking part in the 2012 series, the actor beat off stiff competition from Heidi Range, Sam Nixon and Jorgie Porter.
Matthew then took part in the Dancing on Ice arena tour which included three nights at London’s Wembley Arena.
Could TV fans see him taking part in another game show as his time in soap land comes to an end?
Emmerdale airs weeknights from 7.30pm on ITV.
Matthew is married to former Emmerdale co-star Charley Webb
