Former Emmerdale star Charley Webb has set the record straight on the real reason behind her departure from the ITV soap, dismissing claims of a pay dispute. The actress, 38, last appeared as Debbie Dingle in 2021, two years after announcing her exit.
Why She Left
In 2022, Webb addressed fan questions on Instagram: "I left to have [son] Ace 2 years ago. I went back at the end of last year for 10 weeks to complete a storyline. So, I guess officially it’s been a year. I never felt the need to announce it."
Pay Dispute Rumors Dismissed
Appearing on Luke Hamnett's Live, Laugh and Luke podcast, Webb was asked about rumors she left due to a pay dispute. "No, absolutely not," she said. "That's the biggest pile of s**t I've ever heard. I didn't even know that was out there, but no that's not true."
Return Unlikely
When asked about a possible return, Webb explained: "Not at the moment, no. There's no plans for me to go back, just because I think it wouldn't be the right time and having three kids is a lot and also working there is a lot."
Webb shares three sons with ex-husband Matthew Wolfenden, with whom she co-parents under a week-on, week-off arrangement. She also revealed she is not currently dating.
Dislike for Her Character's Name
During the podcast, Webb admitted she always disliked the name Debbie Dingle. "I hate that name by the way, it's the worst name!" she said. "It's not even the Debbie that offends me, it's the double D. Why would you come up with that for me?"
She noted that Dingle characters traditionally have biblical names, adding: "Maybe they got the name wrong. I'm not a fan of that name."
