26 November 2023 , 20:42
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Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden is said to have gone on secret dates with a personal trainer.
It has been clamed the actor started dating another woman before the end of his marriage to co-star Charley Webb was announced. Earlier this week the former couple decided to call time on their marriage after months of speculation. Emmerdale's Debbie Dingle star wrote in her statement: "It is with love and respect that Matthew and I have decided to separate.
"We remain friends and our priority is the love for our children. For their sake we would appreciate privacy at this time. C x." Matthew shared the same message on his Instagram story signing off with "M". The couple, who share three children, met on the set of ITV soap Emmerdale and began dating in 2007.
Charley and Matthew announced they have split after months of speculation (WireImage)
Matthew is said to have met up with a mystery woman before his split was announced (WireImage)It is believed Matthew enjoyed secret late-night meets with the new woman, who is said to be a personal trainer called Heather Stanley from Watford. According to reports, Matthew met up with Heather between his performances in Elf the Musical at Dominion Theatre, West London. They were seen together before him and Charley announced they had split.
On the night the former couple announced the end of their marriage, it has been said Matthew was seen kissing Heather outside the theatre. An onlooker told The Sun: “They looked like honeymooners, or loved-up teenagers. The pictures will prove a shock to the heart for poor Charley, even as her relationship with Matthew unravelled.”
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While another source told the publication: "Heather was wary about getting too involved with Matthew too soon, but is head over heels. She was trying not to be seen with him, standing away from the stage door when he emerged from show rehearsals and shows. But now the cat is out of the bag." They added she is desperate not to be seen as the "other woman".
Matthew was spotted without his wedding ring after an appearance on Channel 4's Steph's Packed Lunch just days before they announced their split. Charley has also been seen without her wedding ring in public. Charley and Matthew announced their engagement in 2009 and share three together – Buster, 13, Bowie, eight, and Ace, four.
The couple previously split in 2013 for two years before surprising fans by throwing an unexpected wedding in 2018. Matthew told The Mirror at the time that their separation was never meant to be 'permanent'. He said: "It was never a permanent split, we just needed some time apart. Sometimes life just gets on top of you. We had a 'terrible' two-year-old at the time and needed time to look at what we had, but it was the best thing we could have done."
Months after announcing their reunion, the couple confirmed they were expecting a second child and their son Bowie Grey was born in December 19 that year.
They recently sparked split rumours after reports claim Matthew and Charley have been "living separate lives". Matthew sparked rumours he and his wife had split after unfollowing Charley on Instagram. The Emmerdale star had not commented on any of her recent pictures or posted about his wife in over a year.
After announcing their split, Charley took to her social media to bid farewell to her "incredible journey". She shared a photo of herself holding up a peace sign with her back to the camera and wrote: "Over and out Diana. This job has been the most incredible journey, I’ve made friends for life." She had been starring in the stage production of Quiz.