Emmerdale tease heartbreaking exit for much loved character after 17 years

21 November 2023 , 00:01

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Emmerdale tease heartbreaking exit for much loved character after 17 years

Emmerdale spoilers have confirmed a sad exit for one character after nearly two decades on screen.

David Metcalfe - played by Matthew Wolfenden - will be leaving the village in coming scenes, and next week, we find out what causes him to depart the village after nearly two decades in the Dales. Jacob has been getting closer to Victoria, but he is yet to find out the pair are together and has been adamant he can win her back.

Next week on the ITV soap, as he celebrates his birthday, things soon turn awkward as speculation continues on who Jacob's mystery new girlfriend is. Gabby is who they all suspect it might be, but David is worried about discussing the possibility because of Leanna, and doesn't want Jacob to feel any worse about Leanna.

David sees Jacob and Victoria kiss through a window

Jacob and Victoria head to the empty house and take advantage of some alone time together, but when David unexpectedly arrives home, they have to disappear quickly. Seeing straight through Jacob's lies, David admits it is Gabby he's seeing.

Upstairs, Victoria panics and comes back downstairs, worried that Gabby won't go through with the plan. However, she's lost a bracelet that David has given her - will this cause them trouble?

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Elsewhere, David heads to the pub and teases an oblivious Gabby about her romance with Jacob, but she's left baffled by his behaviour. Jacob finds Victoria's bracelet on the floor and relieved, she offers him a kiss - but unbeknownst to them, David sees them lock lips through the window and their secret is suddenly revealed.

Heartbroken, he decides he must leave the Dales (ITV)

Completely devastated and shaken by the news, and with things now completely different for David, he makes a big decision and decides he needs to leave the village. Heartbroken, he says his final goodbyes to his family before heading out of the Dales.

Matthew was emotional as he spoke about his exit from the Dales. He said recently: "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 ...

"I met my wife on the show [Charley Webb, who played Debbie Dingle], 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."

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Jasmine Allday