END OF AN ERA Debbie Dingle’s SHOCKING Exit Marks The CLOSE Of A Turbulent Chapter In Emmerdale History
Debbie Dingle has got married to a man called Chris, and upped and left her home in Scotland to live in Australia! And it sounds very much as though Debbie won’t ever return to Emmerdale.
Debbie’s daughter Sarah got the news when she called her mum to speak to her about her fertility treatment and possible cancer diagnosis.
It turned out Debbie had already made the move and was hanging out Down Under with her new husband and, we assume, her teenage son Jack, though he didn’t even get a mention. Poor chap.
Deb’s been AWOL for a good few years now, after she moved to Scotland in 2019, with Jack. Her grandad Zak followed in 2023 but even though Debbie
But who was Debbie Dingle and what did she – or rather, what didn’t she – get up to while in the village?
Debbie appeared on the soap young (Credit: ITV)
Debbie Dingle arrives in Emmerdale
A young Debbie arrived in the village in 2002 as a foster child for Paddy and Emily Kirk after her adoptive mother Pat fell ill. She was 13 at the time.
When Pat died, the move became permanent. Debbie soon befriended the Dingle family and gave Cain a big shock when she showed him a picture of her biological mum. He recognised her – it was Charity.
Charity remained in denial at first and kept Debbie a secret from her husband Chris Tate. But they soon bonded and Debbie moved in with Charity and Chris.
Later in 2003, Charity admitted that Cain was Debbie’s father, leading to the three of them growing close. This angered Chris and he became aggressive towards Debbie resulting in her moving in with the Dingles.
Teenage pregnancy
Debbie started a secret relationship with Andy Sugden and lost her virginity to him in 2004. Debbie later discovered she was pregnant at just 15 years old. She hid the pregnancy from everyone and planned to abandon the baby after giving birth.
However, after giving birth in a shed, assisted by Emily and Daz, Debbie had a change of heart. But she didn’t initially take to motherhood and constantly left daughter Sarah with Emily.
Later that year, Debbie shocked her family when she gave Sarah to Emily, who was leaving the area. Debbie felt Sarah would have a better life with Emily and showed no remorse for her actions, which angered the Dingles.
It was 10 months before Sarah was returned to her family. But Debbie didn’t want to be a mum, so Sarah went to live with Andy.
Relationship with Jasmine
Debbie became close to Jasmine Thomas and later realised she liked her as more than a friend.
After confessing her love for Jasmine, the two started dating. But, in order to hurt his daughter, Cain seduced Jasmine, who was confused about her sexuality, resulting in Debbie and Jasmine breaking up.
They later reconciled and Debbie got her revenge on Cain by telling him that Jasmine had had an abortion.
Debbie was also involved in the killing of Jasmine’s boyfriend Shane Doyle. Shane attempted to rape Jasmine, and upon hearing her screams, Debbie came to her rescue and knocked Shane unconscious. But he woke up and grabbed Debbie. Jasmine then beat him repeatedly, resulting in his death.
Debbie and Jasmine decided to go on the run together, but Debbie was caught and charged with Shane’s murder. Jasmine later returned and admitted to the crime, though Debbie was still charged with perverting the court of justice.
Debbie swore to love Jasmine forever, then promptly forgot about her and never mentioned her again.
Relationships with Michael and Cameron
Debbie started a relationship with a man named Michael, but was dismayed to discover he was engaged. He told Debbie that he loved her and had called off the wedding.
However, Cain discovered this wasn’t true and Cain and Debbie turned up at the wedding to discover the bride was her mum Charity!
Debbie later met Cameron, but their relationship faced many tests – notably because Sarah was ill and needed a bone marrow transplant.
Debbie and Andy decided to try and have a baby together in order to create a donor for Sarah – a ‘saviour sibling’. This idea didn’t thrill Cameron. And he was furious when he later discovered that it wasn’t done via artificial insemination, but rather conventional methods.
Cameron went on to have an affair with Chas and was responsible for the murders of Carl King and Gennie Walker.
The end result was the Woolpack Siege, which saw Cameron threaten to shoot anyone who dared leave.
Sarah gave birth to Jack and he was a match for his sister. He donated the bone marrow Sarah needed and she recovered.
She married Pete Barton (Credit: ITV)
Pete and Ross Barton
Debbie started a relationship with Pete Barton and the pair got engaged. But Debbie was secretly having an affair with Ross.
Debbie and Pete’s wedding took place in the village hall with a huge fairground outside in the very centre of Emmerdale. It was quite the spectacle! But it didn’t go as planned.
As the newlyweds got ready for their first dance, a recording of Ross and Debbie admitting to their affair was played to the shocked wedding guests!
Meanwhile, an altercation between Chrissie White and ex-husband Robert Sugden in the scrap yard led to gas canisters being set alight and then exploding. The blast hit an approaching helicopter, which Pete had booked to take Debbie away for a fun honeymoon.
The helicopter crashed into the village hall and brought tragedy with it. Ruby Haswell and Val Pollard died, and Debbie was in intensive care.
After the dust settled, Debbie left the village for France alone.
She returned the following year, before leaving for Scotland for good in 2019.
Debbie won’t be returning (Credit: ITV)
Who played Debbie Dingle?
Charley Webb has played Debbie since the character was introduced.
The actress was married to fellow Emmerdale star Matthew Wolfenden for 15 years before the couple announced their split. They have three children together.
Since leaving Emmerdale, Charley has been in demand. She starred in The Long Shadow, an ITV drama about the Yorkshire Ripper. And she toured in a production of Quiz, based on the Who Wants to be a Millionaire scandal .
