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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Delaney

Charley Webb's new life away from Emmerdale as she's forced to shut down dream business

Charley Webb has been keeping busy since walking away from her lucrative Emmerdale gig.

The former soap star, 34, played Debbie Dingle for 19 years before officially calling it quits for good at the start of last year, after her husband Matthew Wolfenden was accused of mimicking the accent of a mixed race actress on set.

Following her decision not to return to The Woolpack in the future, Charley had been selling a range of Scandinavian-inspired handcrafted toys online, but the actress put a halt to to her 'dream' business venture this week, given her lack of time dedicated to the company.

"I’ve loved this chapter and the journey it’s taken us on but we just don’t have the time to run it the way we want to," the mum-of-three told her Instagram followers on Wednesday.

Charley Webb has filmed two TV projects since leaving Emmerdale for good (ITV)

Charley's character Debbie last appeared on Emmerdale in February 2021, after the actress returned from maternity leave just a few months earlier.

The star officially confirmed her soap future on Instagram in January 2022, telling her followers: "This is always my most asked question but I've never answered it before because I've never wanted to make a big deal of it.

"I left to have Ace 2 years ago. I went back at the end of last year for 10 weeks to complete a storyline. So, I guess officially it's been a year. I never felt the need to announce it which is why we didn't."

The former soap star shares three children with her co-star (Instagram)

Later that year, Charley was snapped filming a new project for ITV alongside Coronation Street and Downton Abbey star Katherine Kelly.

The 34-year-old was seen wearing a police uniform while filming scenes on-location for the upcoming drama about the Yorkshire Ripper.

The Long Shadow will depict one of the most notorious and shocking serial killer cases in the world, the hunt for Peter Sutcliffe, dubbed the Yorkshire Ripper, between October 1975 and January 1981.

Charley was spotted filming the ITV drama last year (JOHN MATHER/IMAGE VIEW)

Charley teased her involvement in the project last year, as she posed for a selfie and told her fans: "Costume fitting today for my new job.

"I’m excited for the next 2 projects I’m filming over the summer and to get back on screen."

Taking to Instagram once again in September, the busy star announced one of her projects had been completed as she shared a snap clapperboard on a TV set.

Charley teased her involvement in the Yorkshire Ripper drama last year (JOHN MATHER/IMAGE VIEW)
The star met her husband Matthew thanks to Emmerdale (Getty Images Europe)

"That’s a Wrap. What a Job. What a Team. Met some of the best humans on this job, best in the biz. coming soon," Charley captioned the picture.

While her acting career is going from strength-to-strength, the busy star has had to make a few changes as she juggles work with raising three young children.

In February 2018, Charley and husband Matthew tied the knot after meeting on the ITV soap, with co-star Lucy Pargeter acting as one of the bridesmaids.

The happy couple share three sons together - 11-year-old Buster, five-year-old Bowie and youngest Ace, who was born on 26 July 2019.

Charley had been combining motherhood with running a children's toy company over recent years, but the soap favourite announced she was closing Nordi Babi due to time issues.

In bittersweet announcement, Charley revealed that she is now offering her customers a big discount in order to clear the stock before Nordi Babi closes forever.

"We’re Closing," Charley wrote. "We’ve loved this journey so much but we just don’t have the time to run it the way we want.

"There’s a 40 per cent closing down sale. Thank you for your support, it’s been the most amazing journey with you all."

Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct 0207 29 33033.

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