Emmerdale legend Charley Webb reveals huge new ITV job two years after soap exit – and it’s bad news for soap fans
EX-EMMERDALE star Charley Webb has revealed a major new acting role two years after quitting the soap.
The actress is taking on the part of WPC Anna Lawson in ITV series The Long Shadow, which revisits the five-year long hunt for Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe.
The dark drama will be a major departure for Charley and her starring role in Emmerdale.
A synopsis of the seven-part true crime drama, reads: “One murder has the power to cast a long shadow and this case plunged a whole society into darkness. For every victim, there were friends and loved ones. For every police officer, there was the burden of failure – of near misses and guilt – and the knowledge that as they failed to find their man, more women continued to suffer.”
Charley shared pictures from the upcoming series on Instagram and wrote: “The team that dreams are made of.”
In one shot she can be seen behind the wheel of a 1970s police car, while others show Daniel Mays being doorstepped by reporters and fellow Corrie veteran Katherine Kelly drinking at a bar.
The all-star cast, which includes Toby Jones and Jill Halfpenny, has Charley’s followers very excited.
One posted: “Looks like a great cast. I’ll be watching!”
A second said: “Wow that’s a fantastic cast, can’t wait!”
A third commented: “Awesome. Should be a good show.”
The high-profile role means Charley’s stock is likely to rise when the series airs in September and other offers could come in making a soap return in the near future unlikely.
Speaking about the series, ITV’s Head of Drama Polly Hill said: “George’s scripts and Lewis’s direction together with this wonderful cast have produced a sensitive and brilliant drama that we are proud to have on ITV.”
Executive producer Willow Grylls added: “George Kay, Lewis Arnold and an exceptional cast have bought to life an important event drama that is as tragically resonant today as it was over 40 years ago.”
QUIZ ROLE
Meanwhile, Charley will soon be on the road for the UK tour of James Graham’s Quiz, alongside Rory Bremner, who will play Chris Tarrant.
The cast will also include I May Destroy You‘s Lewis Reeves and Waterloo Road star Mark Benton.
Quiz tells the story of the infamous ‘Coughing Major’ scandal which engulfed hit quiz show, Who Wants to be a Millionaire in 2001.
Charles Ingram won the £1 million prize on the show, but he was denied the winnings due to suspicion of cheating.
The West End comedy play was adapted into an ITV drama in 2020, but the touring show claims to have new evidence, and asks the audience to “put fingers on keypads and answer the ultimate 50/50: guilty or not guilty?”
The Quiz tour begins on September 18 and runs until December 2 and will visit theatres across the country.