Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden is best known for playing David Metcalfe in the ITV soap for 16 years.
However, the actor, who turns 42 on May 5, originally auditioned for a very different role.
In an interview with Inside Soap, he revealed that the was seen by the show’s producers several times and was unaware he was being lined up to play the role of David.
He said at the time: “I had about seven auditions for Eli [Dingle], and it was between me and Joseph [Gilgun].
“I sort of knew Joe would get the part because he looks like more of a Dingle than I do – but what I didn’t realise was that the producers were already considering me for David instead.”
(Image: WireImage)
Matthew went on to reveal that he was pleased with the role he landed and hopes to play the part of David for some time to come.
If he did that land the role of Eli, Matthew would have been in the on-screen family as his real-life wife Charley Webb, played Debbie Dingle in the serial drama.
Charley and Matthew are parents to three sons and tied the knot in February 2018 after he proposed on Christmas Day in 2009.
As well as auditioning for the part of Marlon Dingle’s dodgy brother Eli and landing the role of shop owner David, Matthew has also appeared in Emmerdale as an extra.
(Image: ITV)
While Matthew still remains in the village as David, Joesph left his role of Eli back in 2010.
The soap star he was “sad to leave” but felt it was time to move on.
However, Joesph has since admitted that he’d had enough of the show and also said there wasn’t much more that could be done with the character of Eli.
Before landing his Emmerdale role, Joseph appeared in movie This Is England and TV shows such as Shameless, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks.
(Image: ITV)
In 2019, he created, executive produced, and starred in the Sky One comedy series Brassic.
The actor stars as Vinnie, a working-class petty criminal living in Northern England.
Former Corrie star Michelle Keegan also stars in the drama as a single mum seeking a better life for herself and son Tyler (Jude Riordan).
Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
