David Metcalfe: His many, many romances, cancer battle and son Jacob’s grooming horror
It’s actually quicker to list the women in the village David hasn’t had a romance with!
David Metcalfe in Emmerdale was the long-lost son of Eric Pollard. When he first arrived he was a proper chip off the old block – scheming and sneaky, and determined to get his mitts on Pollard’s money.
But over his years in the village, he grew into a serial monogamist, doting dad, and devoted son.
Here’s everything you need to know about shopkeeper extraordinaire David!
David Metcalfe arrives in Emmerdale
When David first came to the village, he was hunting for Eric- the dad he’d never known. It turned out his mum Lydia had a romance with Eric, who left her before she revealed that she was pregnant – stealing £20,000 from her.
She went on to marry David’s adoptive dad but he wasn’t kind to her or David.
So when David came to find Pollard he brought a lifetime of resentment with him!
Who’s the daddy?
David immediately hit it off with Del Dingle, who offered to help him track down his dad. But when they mistakenly thought Zak Dingle could be David’s dad, Del distanced herself from their flirty friendship.
It was revealed that Eric was the dad and it’s fair to say he wasn’t happy about it at first.
But two DNA tests later and after a good talking-to from Val, he eventually came round. David still wanted the cash, though, and began pocketing money from Pollard’s business. Eric worked it out and was devastated but David apologised and the pair went into business together.
David lost the money though when he spent the night with Katie Sugden and a heartbroken Del transferred the cash into her account and left the village!
So. Many. Romances for David Metcalfe in Emmerdale
After a brief liaison with Jasmine Thomas, David caught the eye of newly returned Nicola Blackstock. They met their match in one another and had a turbulent relationship, to say the least, even scheming to off Nicola’s elderly husband Donald De Souza.
But that romance fell apart when David met Leyla Harding. They got together but once again things got a bit rocky when Leyla revealed first that her sister Alicia’s son Jacob was actually her child, and then that she’d had a brief fling with his adoptive dad Justin and he was the lad’s biological dad.
But despite this, their romance carried on and they planned to marry. But after all sorts of drama involved David’s adoptive sister Amy Wyatt and Leyla’s sister Alicia, the pair split. Leyla left the village leaving David a wreck with just a wedding dress and a load of debt.
Business David
David cleaned himself up with the help of Alicia and his best-friend Nikhil. He reinvented himself as a businessman, taking over the village shop and renaming it after himself.
More romances
David started a romance with Priya Sharma but Alicia was trying to hide the feelings she’d developed for him. When Alicia was shot in the siege at the Woolpack, David realised he felt the same and the pair got together.
They tied the knot on the same day that Leyla arrived back in the village.
Priya, though, was pregnant with David’s baby – we know, it’s exhausting! She gave birth to baby Amba. David was devoted to the little girl but Priya still had feelings for him. Eventually he told her he didn’t feel the same way.
David’s relationship with Alicia hit the rocks when she was sexually assaulted by Lachlan White.
She, David and Jacob went to live in Portugal. They returned after Val’s death but Alicia didn’t want to stay. She went back to Portugal and David remained in the village.
David Metcalfe in Emmerdale and his cancer battle
When Eric thought he might have cancer, David agreed to be checked out too in solidarity. Eric was fine, but it turned out David had testicular cancer.
He was supported through his operation and treatment by Leyla, and his new girlfriend Tracy Shankley, who he later married.
But their marriage broke up after David cheated with Leyla.
Maya Stepney
When David met his son Jacob’s teacher Maya there was an immediate spark. They moved in together, but Maya was hiding a very dark secret.
Maya was grooming teenager Jacob, and after he turned 16, they eventually began a sexual relationship. When the truth came out, David was devastated and full of guilt that he hadn’t seen what Maya was doing to his son.
She was sent to jail for having an inappropriate relationship, and was released a few months later having given birth to a baby boy.
Maya left the baby – named Theo – on David’s doorstep. For a while it wasn’t known if Theo’s dad was David or Jacob. But eventually it was proved that Theo was David’s son.
Meena Jutla and Victoria Sugden romances for David Metcalfe in Emmerdale
After the disaster of his relationship with Maya, you wouldn’t have thought David could choose a worse partner. But next he started a romance with serial killer Meena Jutla!
The relationship was short-lived but full of tension as David was developing feelings for Victoria Sugden – which made Vic a target for Meena!
David and Victoria’s relationship didn’t last either, though David couldn’t move on. He wanted to get back with Vic, but she had other ideas!
She’d fallen for Jacob!
They had an intense romance and David couldn’t handle it. He left the village for good with Theo, and though Vic and Jacob split, David didn’t return for Leyla’s funeral.
Matthew Wolfenden played David Metcalfe in Emmerdale for 17 years, but left abruptly in 2023, thanks to strict rules on the show.
Matthew left to star in a West End production of Elf, which went against Emmerdale’s strict “no pantos” rule.
But his departure came shortly after an explosive racism row rocked the cast and crew of the show.
Here’s everything we know about his exit and whether he could return.
Racism row for Matthew Wolfenden
Back in November 2021, it was reported that Matthew and his co-star Isabel Hodgins, who plays Victoria Sugden, had been involved in a furious row during filming alongside Aaron Anthony, who played Ellis Chapman.
At the time, it wasn’t revealed what went on but it was said the argument left onlookers feeling uncomfortable. No one was suspended at that point.
But later The Sun reported that a mixed-race actress was upset by an “inappropriate comment” made on set and that her accent was mimicked.
And the newspaper made the connection that both Matthew and Isabel had been absent from filming since the incident.
Both Matthew and Isabel denied any wrongdoing. Aaron Anthony, who was said to have confronted Matthew about the incident, left the show.
And Charley Webb – who was married to Matthew at the time – left her role as Debbie Dingle after 19 years.
Return to musical theatre
When the dust settled, Matthew won the role of Buddy in Elf. He therefore wanted to take a break to return to his musical theatre roots.
But Emmerdale bosses wouldn’t relax the show’s “no panto” rule for him and so he made the decision to quit.
He says the door has been left open and he could return one day.
Marriage troubles
Meanwhile, his marriage to Charley Webb was in trouble.
Charley and Matthew had been married for five years, and together for a decade longer, when they called time on their relationship in the summer of 2023.
“It is with love and respect that Matthew and I have decided to separate,” Charley said in a statement on Instagram. “We remain friends and our priority is the love for our children.”
The couple have three kids – Buster, Bowie, and Ace.
Matthew is now in a relationship with choreographer and dancer Heather Scott-Martin.
Read more: Who’s leaving Emmerdale? All the cast exits, arrivals and returns
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm, with an early release on ITVX at 7am.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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