Charley Webb says there was "no acting involved" when filming Emmerdale’s latest Dingle wedding, because it was "really sad" knowing Jane Cox is leaving the soap.
The 31-year-old actress admits it was emotional shooting Zak (Steve Halliwell) and Lisa’s (Jane) nuptials, which will air tonight (23.05.19), after the 67-year-old "mum of the cast" confirmed she is quitting the Dales after 23 years on the show.
Charley – who plays Debbie Dingle – said: "It’s really sad, because we’ve known Jane for so long and she’s amazing and she’s such a team player.
"She’s sort of like the mum of the cast really. There’s no acting involved."
Emma Atkins (Charity Dingle) added: "You’re playing something where actually there’s a lot of truth in what you’re playing.
"It kind of helps in a way to get the emotion."
Jane admits filming her on-screen wedding was tough ahead of her departure, which will see Lisa die of a terminal heart condition, because the cast members have so much "genuine love and care" for each other.
She said: "It’s been hard. It was very hard when she had to tell Belle.
"I am [feeling emotional] too. I shall miss them terribly.
"It’s been like a parallel family, all this time. It’s a third of my life.
"There’s genuine love and care for each other. I shall miss them."
Eden Taylor-Draper – who plays Lisa’s daughter Belle Dingle – added: "Whenever I see her I could literally burst into tears. Because it feels so real.
"I’ve known her for 15 years."
Steve revealed he has starred alongside Jane even longer than the 23 years they’ve been on ‘Emmerdale’ together.
He said: "We worked together before ‘Emmerdale’, we did panto together. I was playing the villain and she played the loved mumsie that she is on this.
"I know it’s a cliché but it is like a family and if you lose one of them then it’s sad."
Speaking to ‘Lorraine’ roving reporter Kimberley Walsh – whose sister Amy Walsh portrays Tracy Metcalfe on the soap – James Hooton (Sam Dingle) added: "Once the cameras have stopped rolling, Jane has shed the odd tear."
Emmerdale’s Charley Webb: Dingle wedding was ‘really sad’ to film
