Emmerdale’s Charley Webb: Why I didn't go to Ned Porteous’s leaving party

The Debbie Dingle star stayed at home

It’s official – Ned Porteous has left Emmerdale as buff businessman Joe Tate. In shock scenes that aired tonight, Joe was bumped off by none other than his right hand man, Graham Foster, who did away with the lad under orders from Kim Tate.

Like many actors leaving a soap, 24 year old Ned marked his departure with a good old knees up. But one of his fellow cast members was noticeably absent – Charley Webb, who played his on-screen fiancé, Debbie Dingle.

She tells us: "I didn’t give Ned a good send off because I didn’t go to his leaving do. I wasn’t well that week so I didn’t go."

Emmerdale spoilers! Will Debbie Dingle call off her wedding to Joe Tate? — Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb) with Joe Tate

One actor who did make the bash was Jeff Hordley, better known as Cain Dingle, who said the party was “really good” and had some kind words to say about his former co-star.

Says Jeff: “Ned’s such a great lad and we all wish him well. It’s been great fun working with him; he’s been a great addition to the show and a great addition to the cast.

“He’s a great all rounder, he’s a great actor and a great guy, so it’s a shame he’s gone. But people have to go on and be actors and do other jobs.”

Ned Porteous joined Emmerdale in September 2017 as the mysterious Tom Waterhouse, a wealthy tycoon who embarked on a relationship with Debbie. But the following January, “Tom” was revealed as Joe Tate, the son of Chris Tate and Rachel Hughes, who had come to the village to seek revenge on Charity for driving his father to suicide.

Debbie was subsequently left heartbroken as Joe said he’d been stringing her along, and that their relationship was “collateral damage”. But the pair later reunited when Joe admitted he genuinely loved her, and the couple were due to marry in last night’s episode, only for Joe to go awol...

Main Charley Webb pic: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock

CATEGORIES

Alison Slade has over 20 years of experience as a TV journalist and has spent the vast majority of that time as Soap Editor of TV Times magazine. She is passionate about the ability of soaps to change the world by presenting important, issue-based stories about real people in a relatable way. There are few soap actors that she hasn’t interviewed over the years, and her expertise in the genre means she has been called upon as a judge numerous times for The British Soap Awards and the BAFTA TV Awards.

When she is not writing about soaps, watching soaps, or interviewing people who are in soaps, she loves going to the theatre, taking a long walk or pottering about at home, obsessing over Farrow and Ball paint.