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Emmerdale’s Matthew Wolfenden lands first job after quitting the ITV soap as he scores leading role

EMMERDALE's Matthew Wolfenden has landed his first leading role after quitting the ITV soap.

The 43-year-old actor is set to star in the musical adaptation of iconic Christmas movie Elf.

Editorial use only..Mandatory Credit: Photo by ITV/Shutterstock (13031825be)..Emmerdale - Ep 9417.Monday 18th July 2022.David Metcalfe, as played by Matthew Wolfenden, thinks Leyla Cavanagh is not being there for Jacob Gallagher before he heads away to uni. She flashes cash to appease Jacob which infuriates David...'Emmerdale' TV Show, Episodes 9417-9434, UK - Jul 2022..Emmerdale, is a British ITV long running soap opera, known as Emmerdale Farm until 1989, set in Emmerdale, a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. It was created by Kevin Laffan and was first broadcast on 16 October 1972. It was originally produced by ITV Yorkshire and is still filmed in their Leeds studios.
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Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden is leaving the ITV soap
Matthew confirmed he will play Buddy The Elf in the West End musical
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Matthew confirmed he will play Buddy The Elf in the West End musical

He'll play Buddy at the Dominion Theatre in London from November 15 to January 6, 2024.

Matthew confirmed the news on Instagram today and shared a line from the classic 2003 flick that catapulted Will Ferrell to international stardom.

The dad-of-three penned over a picture of a snow globe with his face inside it: "Santaaaaaa!! I know him."

The excited star added: "Can. Not. Wait!!!"

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Waterloo Road actor Tom Chambers, who has also starred in Holby City, Father Brown and Casualty will reprise his role as Buddy's father Walter Hobbs from the play's 2022 run.

The show opens in two months time, so it’s likely that Matthew will leave Emmerdale sooner than fans had expected to get started on rehearsals.

Matthew announced he was quitting Emmerdale last month.

His stand-out soap moments included David wearing ex-fiancée Leyla Harding’s wedding dress to The Woolpack, and the shopkeeper's devastating cancer diagnosis.

Speaking about the storyline, the actor told This Morning: "The clip there where I'm totally bald, we did a testicular cancer storyline where David lost all his hair.

"I spent six months shaving my eyebrows and shaving everything to do that storyline, the pople I met through it people who survived cancer were amazing.

"I do feel as an actor I did it justice and as an actor that makes you proud."

He also revealed there is room for him to make a comeback.

When Holly asked "how are you feeling?" he told the This Morning: "I'm so nervous about leaving, it's been two decades.

"It feels like the right time, but the door is left open. They're not klling me off.

"I'm allowed to tell you that, I might be back, but we'll see."

Will Ferrell played Buddy in the iconic 2003 Christmas movie Elf
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Will Ferrell played Buddy in the iconic 2003 Christmas movie ElfCredit: New Line Cinema
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