While Emmerdale viewers deeply miss Debbie Dingle, actress Charley Webb has taken to treading the boards in a role a million miles away from the drama magnet mechanic.

Charley has undertaken a number of roles since her exit from the Yorkshire Dales back in 2021, appearing as Elise in Better, Anna Lawson in The Long Shadow, Hilary McClean in McDonalds & Dodds and Abbie Summerfield in Ellis.

She previously played in Quiz – a stage adaptation of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? cough scandal that rocked the show back in 2001, and has now been cast in the stage adaptation of The Ladies Football Club, by Stefano Massini, as Abigail.

The play, billed as ‘a powerful story of friendship and community’ is set during the First World War, when the women of Sheffield, in their lunch breaks from working in bullet factories, start playing football, eventually playing to crowds of over fifty thousand.

Speaking to Yorkshire Live about how it feels to be a part of the launch of the play, Charley said: ‘I enjoy football, I’ve always liked it, I was really interested in the story. I think it is something that not a lot of people know.

‘There are not a lot of people who know that women’s football was banned for such a long time. It was only brought back in the 1970s – which is not long ago.

‘So, it is about telling a story. Particularly as women’s football is so huge at the moment. It is something which will be fun to do.’

Charley then went on to describe her character: ‘She has five children, her husband is obviously at war, and she doesn’t really want to get involved with the football at first – it is quite a slow process. She’s someone who will say things how it is. She’s very straight-to-the-point. She’s not afraid to give her opinion. She does go on quite a good journey from start-to-finish.’

On the switch between performing on stage and filming for TV, she said: ‘It has been really good. Obviously, it is so different to TV and this is my second piece of proper theatre. It is a case of adapting.

‘I just finished something, at the end of last year, which was filming. So, it was a case of getting back into the whole process of theatre which is so, so different.

‘It is a team of amazing people and the girls are really gorgeous girls and it is fun to be an all-female cast.’

Has she found much difference?

‘It is so different. Obviously, when you are doing theatre the reaction is there, it is a live reaction. TV is just a completely different thing. TV will always be my first love – that’s where I’m happiest.

‘But I do think it is a really nice change and seeing the audience reaction and seeing if they enjoy the show – which bits they laugh at. I always enjoy that side. Every audience is different. Every audience you have every night is different. You get quiet audiences and you get audiences that are so massively involved – you just never know. People do laugh at different times which maybe you’ve not had before.

‘Sometimes the bits that you think people will find funny they don’t. It is always good to see what their humour is.’

What to expect from the show? Charley says: ‘I think, actually, it isn’t going to be what people expect.

‘I don’t think it is even what I expected – it is very physical. I think there’s something in there for everyone.