Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden has confirmed his final week filming on the show as his character David Metcalfe is set to exit.
David has been a fixture in the Dales for 17 years, but Matthew has taken to Instagram to announce his next project and confirm the character's final days are upon us.
He shared that he will be starring in the stage adaptation of Will Ferrell's hit Christmas film Elf and that he has only two days left on the soap.
"It’s all getting very real!" He wrote next to a picture of the posted for Elf the Musical. "2 days left at Emmerdale – 4 days until we start rehearsals for this amazing show!"
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Matthew will appear in the musical as Buddy the Elf, who in the 2003 film travels to New York from the North Pole after discovering he is a human, and not an elf as he has grown up believing.
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David will remain on our screen for a few more weeks, however, as there is plenty more drama for him and his family in store.
Matthew spoke publicly about his reasons for leaving the soap during a recent episode of This Morning, saying it felt like "the right time".
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"I'm so nervous about leaving, almost two decades," he admitted. "It feels like the right time. The door's left open, they're not killing me off, I've been promised. I'm allowed to tell you that. So who knows, I might be back, we will see."
He went on to tease how his exit would play out, confirming that Victoria Sugden would play a key role in his final episodes after a romantic twist has been hinted at for David.
"There is a resolution of sorts, I can't give too much away," he continued. "Victoria is the reason why he leaves the village. Put it that way."
Emmerdale airs on weeknights at 7.30pm on ITV1, and streams on ITVX.
