Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden is ready for a big year

EMMERDALE favourite Matthew Wolfenden is taking a step into the past and he couldn’t be happier.

Matthew, 35, is expecting his second child with his soap co-star Charley Webb. They already have a five-year-old son Buster, and Matthew says they’re thrilled at the imminent arrival.

“I’ve kind of forgotten all the nappies and sleepless nights,” laughs Matthew as The Sunday Post catches up with him at his Leeds home.

“All of my friends who have more than one child say that’s why you have a second because you forgot how difficult it was with the first.

“If you’d remembered, you probably wouldn’t have another one. But I can’t wait, to be honest.

“The baby’s expected in early December so it’s going to be a huge 2016. Hopefully things will just get better and better.”

Matthew has played David Metcalf for the past decade. And that’s something the affable actor is struggling to get his head around.

He admits: “It feels like it’s about two minutes but I really did think recently it was more like five years.

“When someone told me that it was 10 years in September I really couldn’t believe it. It’s ridiculous.

“You don’t ever think you’re ever going to be here anything like that long. New cast coming in are never offered long contracts in case the character doesn’t work out.

“I got offered three months to start with and 10 years later they’re still offering contracts, so I must be doing something right.”

Matthew is due to have a second child with Emmerdale co-star Charley Webb, who plays Debbie Dingle (PA Archive)

Over the years David has been at the heart of plenty of big stories.

And that’s the case at the moment as his dad Eric Pollard’s demise following the death of beloved wife Val continues.

“David sees him really having a nervous breakdown,” explains Matthew.

“Everyone around Pollard, his family and friends, are seeing this man who was healthy and vibrant go downhill before their eyes.

“He looks dishevelled and tired because he’s not sleeping.”

David attempts to intervene this week, but his best efforts to make things better end in disaster.

“David finds the house in a tip and sees his dad in a worse state than ever,” says Matthew.

“Pollard has basically created a shrine to Val, holding on to everything of hers.

“David tells him that he needs some help and that if he won’t talk to a professional then he can at least talk to him.

“But Pollard throws him out of the house. To try to make him listen David comes back and handcuffs himself to the bannister.

“However, it doesn’t work out because Pollard gets the key and just leaves David trapped there.”

With Pollard such a popular character, the decline has gripped viewers. And Matthew says he’s relished the scenes alongside Chris Chittell, who’s a near-30-year veteran of the show.

“This has been so nice to get your teeth into. Chris is such a good actor that it’s been so interesting to watch him play this.

“I’ve learned so much over the past 10 years and this storyline is so powerful.

“To see such a big character come to the point that David thinks he’s going to kill himself is quite shocking.”

Before he signed on at the ITV soap Matthew had a stage and musical theatre background.

It’s something that music-mad Matthew pines for.

But with a family to look after, he says he’s in no hurry to leave.

“We’re a really musical household and our five-year-old is always singing and dancing about the place,” adds Matthew.

“And I love music well, other than the fact my guitar has been lying propped up against the wall for the past six months.

“I really miss musicals but I

get to act every day and I don’t think at 35 I want to put myself back out there as we’re settled here.

“But you never know if the producers decide to kill you off then you just have to bite the bullet.”