Charley Webb, best known for playing Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale for more than two decades, has spoken about her time on the soap.
Emmerdale favourite Charley Webb has said the ITV soap will “always hold a special place” in her heart as she reflects on her years in the village and hints at an exciting new venture.
Now 37, Charley first began her television career as a teenage actress and became widely known to millions of Emmerdale viewers for her role as Debbie Dingle after joining the ITV drama in 2002. She went on to appear in nearly 2,000 episodes before departing the show in February 2021.
Despite ongoing calls from fans for Debbie’s return, the character has not been seen in the village for major family events, including the death of Zak Dingle (Steve Halliwell) and her father Cain Dingle’s (Jeff Hordley) recent cancer diagnosis.
Since leaving the ITV soap, Charley has taken on other projects, appearing in the television series The Last Shadow and Better, as well as performing on stage in Quiz — the theatre production based on the infamous Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? coughing scandal, according to Yorkshire Live.
Charley is set to make her return to the stage in The Ladies Football Club. She has landed a part in the world premiere theatre adaptation of Stefano Massini’s The Ladies Football Club.
The production will run at The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield from Saturday, February 28 until Saturday, March 28.
The mother-of-three will take on the role of Abigail, starring alongside Gentleman Jack actress Jessica Baglow and Coronation Street star Ellie Leach. Described as a powerful story of friendship and community, the play is directed by the highly regarded Elizabeth Newman.
Set during the First World War, the story follows the women of Sheffield who moved into factory jobs producing explosives and ammunition while the men were away fighting. When the women begin playing football during their lunch breaks, it soon becomes clear they are just as capable on the pitch as they are on the factory floor.
As their passion for the sport and sense of teamwork uncover an unexpected inner strength, the women eventually find themselves performing in front of crowds of more than 50,000 — unaware that a looming development will soon bring their beloved game to an end.
Taking time out from rehearsals, Emmerdale star Charley Webb spoke about the ITV soap for the first time in a while, describing her years there as “so special” and saying her fellow cast members felt like “family.”
She said: “That chapter of my life will always mean so much to me. It covered such a significant period, especially during really formative years. Many of my closest friends are still there — it was always such an enjoyable place to work.
“It really is like a family. People say that all the time, but it’s true. I’m still incredibly close to so many of them. It genuinely felt like going to work with a group of your best friends every day.”
Five years after leaving Emmerdale, Charley confirmed she has remained close to several of her former co-stars.
She explained: “I actually live quite near a few of them, so we see each other regularly. Emma Atkins, who played my mum, Charity Dingle, her little boy is my godson.
“He’s best friends with my middle child — he’s like a brother to all of them. They’re incredibly close.”
Reflecting on life after Emmerdale, Charley added: “I feel really fortunate with the work I’ve had since leaving. I’ve been consistently employed and I feel very grateful.
“It’s been great to have opportunities to take on roles that are completely different, especially something like this, which is set in the early 1900s during the First World War.”
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