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There was some shock news recently when it was confirmed that\u00a0Matthew Wolfenden\u00a0will be leaving\u00a0Emmerdale soon. The actor has played David Metcalfe \u2013 owner of the shop that bears his name \u2013 since 2006.<\/p>\n
Matthew appeared on This Morning recently\u00a0to discuss his exit, saying it \u2018felt like the right time\u2019 to leave the show \u2013 although he admitted that the prospect made him emotional and \u2018so nervous about leaving after nearly two decades.\u2019<\/p>\n
Luckily for his fans he also said that the door was going to be left open for him to return. \u2018They\u2019re not killing me off. I\u2019ve been promised\u2026 and I am allowed to tell you that,\u2019 he confirmed.<\/p>\n
Apart from the fans, someone who will be hugely relieved by this news is\u00a0Joe-Warren Plant,\u00a0who has played David\u2019s stepson Jacob Gallagher since 2010 \u2013 when he was only eight years old.<\/p>\n
The actor spoke to Inside Soap about his upcoming storylines and addressed the exit of the man he thinks of as his \u2018best friend.\u2019\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m gutted!\u2019 he said of the news that Matthew will be leaving. \u2018I\u2019ve learnt everything from him. I had no previous acting experience, so everything came directly from Matthew.\u2019<\/p>\n
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Joe-Warren said that he\u2019d enjoyed the way Jacob and David\u2019s relationship has matured in recent years now that Jacob is an adult.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s nice to see the change in conversations \u2013 everything\u2019s a bit more grown-up and they talk more on a mature level,\u2019 he reflected. \u2018They\u2019ve always got on, David\u2019s a great father, but Jacob\u2019s enjoying spending more time with David as a single dad.\u2019<\/p>\n
Upcoming episodes are due to bring drama for both father and son, as a careless mistake sees Jacob suffering a life-threatening allergic reaction. <\/p>\n
As we\u2019ve seen in previous storylines where\u00a0Jacob\u2019s life was in danger, David\u2019s world is rocked by anything happening to his son and he immediately goes all out to protect him.<\/p>\n
Looking towards life for Jacob without his dad around, Joe-Warren said, \u2018It\u2019s going to be strange not having him around! <\/p>\n
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\u2018I think he\u2019ll have to spend more time with Leyla (Roxy Shahidi) and get used to not having a father figure in his vicinity. Jacob loves David to pieces and there\u2019s good energy between them. Jacob will struggle without him!\u2019<\/p>\n
It\u2019s clear that not working regularly with Matthew is going to be difficult for Joe-Warren too.<\/p>\n
\u2018It\u2019s sad, but we\u2019ll keep in touch \u2013 he\u2019s my best friend!\u2019 he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Matthew\u2019s the most genuine soul you could ever meet. I\u2019ll miss him, for sure.\u2019<\/p>\n