Headshot taken by James Melia.
Matthew Wolfenden (born 5th May 1980 in Norwood Green, Halifax, West Yorkshire) is an English actor who portrayed David Metcalfe in Emmerdale from November 2006 to November 2023.
Wolfenden attended Brighouse High School. He is a former gymnast who was a member of the British gymnastics squad until he fell whilst practising on the rings and damaged his back. This prevented his continuing gymnastics and he turned to acting in The West End.
After graduating from Leeds’s Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Matthew starred in Romeo And Juliet The Musical, and continued performing in London until an opportunity came about to audition for Emmerdale, He originally auditioned for the role of Eli Dingle, but lost out to Joseph Gilgun; The producers liked Matthew in the auditions and came up with the part of David specifically for Wolfenden. He was nominated for Best Comedy Performance at The British Soap Awards in 2016.
He wrote three episodes of Doctors from 2023 to 2024 with Rokhsaneh Ali (Roxy Shahidi) and they had a podcast together called Celebrity Side Hustles.
His other stage and screen roles include Hollyoaks: Let Loose, Elf The Musical and The Good Ship Murder.
In early 2007, Wolfenden finished 9th on the second series of Soapstar Superstar. He performed the songs Bad Day (Daniel Powter) and Don't Stop Me Now (Queen).In 2012 Matthew won Dancing on Ice with over 75% of the public vote in the final.
Wolfenden and Charley Webb have three sons together, Buster Lawrence Wolfenden, born on 3rd April 2010, Bowie Grey Wolfenden was born on 19th December 2015 and Ace Gene Wolfenden was born on 26th July 2019. Matthew and Charley married in February 2018 but later split in November 2023.