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DALES SURPRISE
Emmerdale’s Jeff Hordley admits he’s ‘desperate’ for on-screen daughter Charley Webb to make explosive return
EMMERDALE star Jeff Hordley said he is desperate for his on-screen daughter Charley Webb to make an explosive comeback.
Charley - who played Debbie Dingle on the programme - walked away from the long-running ITV soap two years ago in a shock move.
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TV favourite Jeff, 53, said he would be thrilled for Charley to return, saying there is always "room" for her on the soap.
When asked if he would like to see Charley pick up where she left off and return to the Dales, Jeff exclusively told The Sun: "Absolutely, all day long. I'm in touch with Charley an awful lot but I think she's kind of busy doing other things.
"There is always room for her to return - she was such a massive character in the show and such an important and integral character.
"She did so many fantastic storylines, it would be great to see her back."
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The actress, 35, played the role of Debbie Dingle in the Dales for 19 years.
Last month she hinted that she could be making an epic comeback to Emmerdale.
In a Q&A with fans on her official Instagram account, she revealed she would be back on television "before the end of the year".
Previously confirming her exit, Charley said: "This is always my most asked question but I've never answered it before because I've never wanted to make a big deal of it.
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"I left to have Ace 2 years ago. I went back at the end of last year for 10 weeks to complete a storyline.
"So, I guess officially it's been a year. I never felt the need to announce it which is why we didn't."
Meanwhile, Jeff's character hard man Cain has been at the centre of the explosive Caleb Milligan storyline.
All hell recently broke loose for Caleb (Will Ash) after his son Nicky backed out of his own wedding with Gabby Thomas.
The troublemaker's true motives came to light and he's left to pick up the pieces as the Dingles turned their backs on him.
To make matters worse for him, his relationship with half-brother Cain went downhill, despite their many efforts to get along in recent months.
Opening up about their ongoing feud, Jeff told us: "With Caleb, all of his intentions are very honourable - I think he wants to help his brother and bond with his brother, but he keeps getting it wrong.
"It would be good to have two brothers in harmony or at least getting on so you could make it like the Mitchell brothers.
"I think there will always be friction, but let's hope there is some harmony as well, so let's hope for that."
Elsewhere, things are currently going smoothly with Cain and wife Moira Barton, but will there be anymore drama on the horizon for this pair?
Jeff told us at the Tric Awards: "It would be nice to have almost a Bruce Willis and Cybill Shepherd scenario in Moonlighting, where they almost get together.
"Why can't you have something like that where it doesn't actually affect Cain and Moira."
Jeff, who joined the cast of Emmerdale in early 2000, said he has no plans on leaving the soap anytime soon.
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"As long as they'll have me, I'm really happy here," he said.
"I've been blessed with some really lovely storylines and I work with a fantastic crew, what's not to like."
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