Charley Webb and her husband Matthew Wolfenden have announced their separation.
The actors, who met while working on Emmerdale, shared the news in a statement on Instagram on Wednesday evening.
The couple have been married for five years after tying the knot in 2018 and share three children: Buster, 13, Bowie, 8, and Ace, 4.
Charley’s statement read: “It is with love and respect that Matthew and I have decided to separate. “We remain friends and our priority is love for our children. For her sake, we would appreciate some privacy at this time.”
The first signs of problems in their marriage emerged earlier this month when Matthew unfollowed his wife on Instagram.
Separation: Charley Webb and her husband Matthew Wolfenden have announced their separation
Statement: The actors, who met while working on Emmerdale, shared the news in a statement on Instagram on Wednesday evening
It was noted that the soap star had not shared any photos of Charley in the past year or commented on any of her recent pictures.
In his own statement, Matthew shared the same words as his estranged wife, but from his own perspective.
A source told the Sun: “Charley and Matthew were at very different points in their lives when they first met.”
“Three children later and new careers, everything has changed and perhaps they are no longer the unit they once were.”
The announcement comes days after Charley said she was “just ignoring life” as rumors swirled that she and Matthew had gone their separate ways.
She shared a cryptic post on Instagram earlier this month, and in recent weeks she’s been wearing her wedding ring on her right hand instead of her left.
Charley posted a selfie looking dejected and captioned the post, “I’m ignoring life and all the jobs I have to do. Plus I want more piercings.”
Family: Charley and Matthew share three sons: Buster, Bowie and Ace
More speculation: The announcement comes days after Charley said she was simply ignoring life as rumors swirled that she and Matthew had gone their separate ways
Charley and Matthew met on the set of Emmerdale in 2006 when he joined the soap and got engaged just three years later in 2009.
The couple, who have three sons – Buster, Bowie and Ace – split for two years in 2013 before having a surprise wedding in Ripley Castle, Yorkshire, in 2018.
Friends thought they were attending a party to celebrate her 30th birthday
Charley gushed: “The moment we announced what we were doing and saw everyone’s reaction is the best moment of my life.”
Matthew added: “We couldn’t have gotten a better response. ‘People were just screaming for about ten minutes!’
Back in February 2020, after the birth of her third child, Charley told OK! Magazine: “I don’t feel like I’m done.” I don’t know how many kids I want, but I think I’ll know when I’m done.
“Maybe I can’t have it anymore, so who knows?” “I feel blessed to have three healthy boys, so sometimes I feel like I’m greedy to have another one.”
Speaking about her and Matthew’s parenting style, she revealed: “I’m definitely the strict one.
“He is the more relaxed, the funnier one.” As a father, he is very practical and is very committed to the children.”
Cryptic: Charley posted a selfie looking dejected and captioned the post: “I’m ignoring life and all the jobs I have to do.” I also want more piercings.
History: Charley and Matthew met on the set of Emmerdale in 2006 when he joined the soap and got engaged just three years later in 2009
Yikes! This came as Matthew unfollowed Charley on social media after it was reported that they were “living separate lives” after 15 years and three children together.