Yahoo News Emmerdale's Matthew Wolfenden breaks down in tears at soap exit after 18 years
The soap favourite was emotional at a 'best bits' tribute as his final scenes approach.
Emmerdale favourite Matthew Wolfenden has confirmed he is leaving the soap after 18 years – but it isn't just sad news for fans, as the actor teared up over his exit.
The 43-year-old joined the ITV soap as David Metcalfe in 2006 and after rumours that he was planning to bow out, he has now confirmed that David's final days in the Dales are looming and his first role post-soap will be in West End theatre for Elf The Musical.
Wolfenden, who is married to former Emmerdale co-star Charley Webb who played Debbie Dingle, appeared on Wednesday's This Morning to tell hosts Holly Willoughby and Craig Doyle about his decision.
But he was ambushed with a best bits compilation of some of his biggest Emmerdale moments, which left him in tears and struggling to regain his composure.
Wolfenden tried to hold back tears 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. Yeah, but we will see."
The round-up of soap memories clearly meant a lot to Wolfenden, as he started to get teary again and was handed a tissue.
He said: "I'm still really emotional watching that."
Read more: Emmerdale to air romantic twist for David ahead of show exit
Wolfenden 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."
David's storylines have included testicular cancer, a run-in with serial killer Meena Jutla, and making the horrifying discovery that partner Maya Stepney had been abusing his teenage son.
In recent years, his storylines have been closely tied to Victoria Sugden (Isabel Hodgins) and Wolfenden teased that his character's exit would be "the reason he leaves the village", but held back on any further spoilers.
Although Wolfenden hasn't revealed his long-term career plans after Emmerdale, he has confirmed that he will be starring in Elf The Musical at London's Dominion Theatre over Christmas, where he will take the lead role as Buddy.
Joining him in the cast is former Holby City and Strictly Come Dancing star Tom Chambers, who will play Walter Hobbs in the production which will run from 15 November 2023 to 6 January 2024.
He said that he was due to start rehearsals for the West End show on the Monday after leaving his soap role – giving him just the weekend off.
Wolfenden's wife, Webb, quit her role as Debbie in 2019, but made a brief return to the character in 2021.
