Former Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden has spoken out for the first time about his suspension from the soap in 2021 for alleged "racist" comments.
The actor, who played David Metcalfe in the Dales for 17 years until 2023, was suspended alongside co-star Isabel Hodgins (Victoria) for three months after an unidentified co-star accused the pair of mocking a mixed-race actress's accent.
Recalling the incident on The Lewis Nicholls Show, Wolfenden said: "We were falsely accused of doing an accent on set. Whenever the word 'race' is used they have to take it seriously.
"So a young cast member mistakenly thought he heard us doing a Chinese accent, so he went up to see the producer and said, 'I'm not very happy about this, I think I've just heard them mimicking a Chinese accent'.
"So because of this we did have to get suspended because as soon as that's an issue they have to go down the correct routes while they investigate what happens."
Wolfenden went on to explain that the actor in question - who left the soap while he was suspended - had overheard them recreating the Orange Juice Scene from the comedy The League of Gentlemen.
The actor then complained directly to management, leading to a suspension for Hodgins and Wolfenden, who says that he was told not to speak about the incident to the press.
"I didn't have a leg to stand on because the press team at Emmerdale just said to stay quiet," he continued. "All I wanted to do was tell my truth and tell that story and I was kind of told not to. And that was difficult because I was being accused of something that I hadn't done.
"It was hard and I got very very poorly and had a nervous breakdown. I ended up having a nervous breakdown and I ended up in The Priory for a month.
"I thought I was going to lose my job over this, over something I haven't done. I've always struggled with my mental health so just ended up with this big spiral down and ended up having a nervous breakdown."
An Emmerdale spokeswoman told The Sun: "Whilst we would never comment on specific cases, ITV takes all allegations of racism and bullying extremely seriously and investigates all incidents thoroughly and takes appropriate action."
Wolfenden remained on the soap for a further two years before departing in November 2023 to take on a panto role.
Neil Wilkes
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