'Emmerdale' Matthew Wolfenden: 'David wants to move on with Alicia'

Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden has confirmed that his character David Metcalfe is likely to set his sights on Alicia Gallagher following the departure of her sister Leyla Harding.

David's relationship with Leyla is currently at crisis point and the troubled shopkeeper will leave the village in tonight's episode.

Discussing the aftermath of Leyla's exit, Wolfenden told Soaplife: "[David's] really awful to Alicia because he kind of blames her for all that's happened between him and Leyla - her bringing Jacob into their lives, stirring everything up from the past and all the bad memories. It'll take a different turn eventually, but that's the way it is now."

Asked whether David could fall for Alicia, he replied: "That's what people want in general. I didn't think that was ever on the cards but it's the way it's looking, even though she's with Andy at the moment. We'll have to see how that one goes."

The actor also predicted that David's heartbreak over Leyla will not have a long-lasting impact on his life.

"He'll get over it - people always do in soap world," Wolfenden said. "He'll move on and have to make a go of it with someone else. Alicia's the definite candidate for him."

Rokhsaneh Ghawam-Shahidi, who played Leyla, announced her decision to leave Emmerdale in June.

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