LOCKED DOWN IN THE DALES: ‘I FELT GOOD ABOUT TURNING 40. I HAVE CHARLEY AND THE KIDS I'M LUCKY'

EMMERDALE STARS MATTHEW WOLFENDEN AND CHARLEY WEBB TELL OK!’S ANNABEL ZAMMIT ALL ABOUT THEIR LOCKDOWN CELEBRATIONS

- ANNABEL ZAMMIT

Matthew Wolfenden should have been surrounded by 30 friends on an adults-only getaway to celebrate his 40th birthday. Instead, the Emmerdale star spent the milestone birthday on lockdown at the home in North Yorkshire he shares with wife and co-star Charley Webb and their three sons.

Despite the change of plan, the actor – who plays David Metcalfe in the ITV show – feels incredibly lucky. “Charley and the kids have thoroughly spoiled me – it’s been such a lovely day,” Matthew tells OK! after a morning spent opening presents with sons Buster, 10, Bowie, four, and 10-month-old Ace.

At the start of lockdown, the couple, who married in 2018 in a secret ceremony exclusively covered by OK!, and two of their sons fell ill with severe flu-like symptoms, which resulted in them having to self-isolate for three weeks. “We’re just grateful we’re healthy, so having to cancel Matthew’s birthday break wasn’t the end of the world,” adds Charley, 32, who is currently on maternity leave from her role as Debbie Dingle in the soap.

Here, accompanied by photos they took themselves, the pair open up about the family’s lockdown celebrations, the tough times they’ve faced while isolating and Matthew reveals he had to shave his head following a “hideous” haircut by Charley…