The ‘real reason’ behind Charley Webb and Matthew Wolfenden’s shock split ‘revealed’ after Emmerdale stars parted ways after 15 years together

Charley Webb and her husband Matthew Wolfenden shocked fans after they announced their split back in 2023 after 15 years together and five years of marriage.

It was the actress who called it quits on the relationship, and now it has been revealed why she reportedly decided it would be best for the two Emmerdale stars to go their separate ways.

At the time of their split Charley, now 37, had left behind her role as Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale and was embarking on her first stage tour as Diana Ingram in Quiz.

Amid rave reviews it was reportedly this new career accomplishment which made Charley reexamine her life and make the life changing decision.

An insider told The Sun: ‘It was the first time in years she was fully herself again, not mum, not Debbie – but a stage actress.

‘There was a lot of downtime when she was on her own, and she really had a chance to think about what she wanted from her life.’

The ‘real reason’ behind Charley Webb and Matthew Wolfenden’s shock split has been reportedly revealed (pictured in 2017 a year before they tied the knot)

It was the actress who called it quits on the relationship after five years of marriage and 15 years together

Meanwhile Matthew, now 45, was back at the couple’s home in Yorkshire looking after their children Buster, 15, Bowie, eight, and Ace, four, before getting ready to head to London with the stage version of Elf.

It was during this production that he met his now girlfriend Heather Scott Martin and their relationship was later assumed to be the reason behind the split.

The insider added: ”It was incredibly hard for Matthew because people saw him with Heather and assumed he was behind the split. He kept a dignified silence at the time and only decided to speak out about it all much later on.’

Following the split the couple kept their house for another year before putting it on the market for £900,000 in January this year.

Meanwhile Charley moved in fellow actress and best pal Sheridan Smith.

Sheridan, 44, shares a son, Billy, with her former fiancé, Jamie Horn, and recently split with her boxer boyfriend, Dave Ryan.

The pair have been huge supports for each other, both in their acting work and childcare.

They even have a dog together and last year enjoyed a sun-soaked holiday in Greece.

The couple were married for five years after tying the knot in 2018 and share their three children, Buster, 14, Bowie, eight, and Ace, four

In December 2023, a month after announcing his split from Charley, Matthew was seen stepping out with love interest Heather Scott-Martin (pictured) who is now his girlfriend

Meanwhile Charley moved in fellow actress and best pal Sheridan Smith. The pair have been huge supports for each other, both in their acting work and childcare

MailOnline have contacted both Charley and Matthew’s representatives for comment.

Matthew previously opened up about the split on the podcast The Lewis Nicholls Show back in May as he admitted: ‘It was a tough time for me, it was a time of big changes, and then this on top of things wasn’t the best news in the world. But things happen for a reason and yeah.

‘It was a very very tough time, but these things happen, and I’m not the first person in the world to have separated from their partner with kids involved.

‘It was the fact that the kids were quite young, and it wasn’t only a couple of years ago. That was a concern to me. We had to move onwards.’

He added: ‘I didn’t expect it at all, it was a big shock. Separation is very difficult when you’ve spent 15 years together, your lives together and everything you own is together – just sorting out.’

Last year Matthew also opened up about the couple’s co-parenting journey.

He insisted during an appearance on Loose Women that he and Charley are still good friends and they work well together to find the best way to care for their three children.

He said: ‘I think we’re still finding our way, the good thing is me and Charley we’re still best mates.

‘That’s fantastic. It’s all quite new to us still at the moment but we’re still finding our feet, finding a way to do it and do it well. I think we are.’

The couple announced their split in November 2023, with Charley writing on Instagram at the time: ‘It is with love and respect that Matthew and I have decided to separate.

‘We remain friends and our priority is the love for our children. For their sake we would appreciate privacy at this time.’

Signs of trouble in their marriage first emerged earlier in the month when Matthew unfollowed his Charley on Instagram.

A source told The Sun: ‘Charley and Matthew were in very different places in their lives when they first got together.

‘Three kids later and with new careers in the mix, everything has changed and perhaps they are no longer the unit they once were.’