Debbie Dingle actress Charley Webb admits she'd like more kids but Emmerdale comes first at the moment

Debbie Dingle actress Charley Webb admits she'd like more kids but Emmerdale comes first at the moment

Life has been spiralling out of control for Emmerdale's Debbie Dingle as she continues to alienate herself from her family and everyone in the village with her erratic and evil behaviour.

But things are about to get even worse as Debbie learns she is in danger of losing her children for good.

Here, actress Charley Webb, 25, tells us more about the dramatic storyline and what it’s like playing one of the feistiest women in soapland...

Are you enjoying this storyline?

I’m really enjoying it, but it’s been very intense as I’ve had quite a lot of emotional stuff to do.

Do you find it hard to switch off when you finish filming and go home?

Yes, it’s really draining. You’re telling your body for 12 hours that you’re upset and you’ve got to cry. It’s such a weird thing to have to do.

By the time you’ve done one scene you’re exhausted. Then you realise youâ €™ve got another 10 crying scenes and you think, “Oh, my God!”

I’m also a perfectionist, so if I feel as if a scene hasn’t gone well, it will drive me insane.

Ouch: Debbie wallops Robbie after he tells on her

 

Is it fun playing the bitch?

I do like that side to her, and I play a bitch really well! But I also like the vulnerable side, because I think if she was just a bitch then it would be boring.

As long as there are layers ?to her and I still believe what I’m playing ?then I’m fine.

This is a bit of a bonkers storyline, though. Has it been difficult for you to believe in it?

There were times at the beginning where I thought some of it was too much. But I think the balance is there now.

A lot of people felt really sorry for Debbie about the kids ?being taken away.

So what happens when she realises Andy wants to fight her for custody of the children?

Debbie panics and thinks she cannot lose her children. She has to think fast. And the only thing she can think of is to run away with them.

She knows that if Andy takes her to court, she’s got absolutely no chance with her track record. So she snatches ?them from a prizeg iving and heads off to the airport.

She’s determined to get away and never come back.

Pride and joy: Charley with Matthew and Buster

 

But what happens with Cameron?

Well, just to make Debbie’s life even more complicated, there’s a kiss.

Obviously their relationship is horrendous and has been for a long time. But somehow, because she’s leaving, he suddenly decides he doesn’t want to lose her.

She’s quite furious at first, but he kisses her, and then they give in to each other.

What is Chas’s reaction when she walks ?in after the kiss?

She knows something’s amiss because there’s an awkward atmosphere.

Debbie looks confused and tearful, but Cameron is very good at swiftly covering up.

Despair in the Dales: As Debbie Dingle

 

What happens when Cameron chases Debbie ?to the airport?

She gets there and she’s just checking in when Cameron turns up. So there’s more to come with these two.

I don’t ?want to reveal whether she goes with him or not.

Will they get back together?

Who knows? There’s a lot of history with those two.

She’s never stopped loving him, even though he’s hurt her so badly.

She still thinks she wouldn’t want to be back with him, but sometimes passion just takes over.

What’s it like being part of the Dingle family?

I think it’s the best family in the soap! They are a really strong family and they fight for each other.

At the moment Debbie has been completely cast aside by them, but I think they’ll always stand by each other.

How did you ?find the 40th anniversary live show last October?

It was nerve-wracking â€" the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done in my life.

But it was amaz ing and I’m so proud of it. Even thinking about it still makes me nervous.

Love/hate: Will Cameron and Debbie get back together?

 

Have you enjoyed working with the baby?

Oh, God, he’s so cute. He makes everybody broody. It’s a big highlight of the day when there’s a baby on set, and everyone loves the animals too.

My partner Matthew [Wolfenden, who plays David Metcalfe in the soap] and I would like more children, but at the moment I’m focusing on work.

As a mum, have you found the child custody story hard to deal with?

Yes, but I try not to bring it home with me.

Do you find it easy to balance your work with looking after three-year-old Buster?

I’ve got fantastic support from family, as well as a brilliant nanny, and Matthew is amazing.

We are usually in different scenes as our characters barely meet, so it works ?really well as one of us is normally at home.

Do you and Matt talk about work a lot?

Not really, because we’re with different film crews all the time. Occasionally I’ll ask him if there’s any gossip from the set , but he never knows â€" he’s useless!

But we do socialise with other cast members a lot.

What reaction do you get from fans towards Debbie?

I get positive feedback too, not just negative. Debbie isn’t just an evil bitch, there’s much more to her than that.

And people always ask me if Debbie and Cameron are going to end up together as well.

And finally, you’ve recently dyed your hair dark. Was that tricky to arrange with the producers?

Yes! Dark is my natural colour and I wanted to go back to it, but it was a question of timing.

When Debbie spiralled out of control, we realised that was a good opportunity to go ahead and do it. I love it!