EMMERDALE hunk Matthew Wolfenden is dating a £40-an-hour personal fitness trainer following his agonising marriage split from soap co-star Charley Webb.
He went on secret late night dates with the brunette gym bunny – who boasts the work motto, ‘Leave the past behind, focus on what you can do now’.
Determined work-out stunner Heather Stanley waited in shop doorways for her actor lover to leave the West End theatre, where he is starring in Elf the Musical.
The duo then resembled “honeymooners” as they walked hand-in-hand through oblivious crowds in central London back to Matthew’s apartment nearby.
The covert pair were spotted several times before the announcement of the end of the showbiz couple’s marriage, The Sun told yesterday.
Today we can reveal loved-up Matthew’s new woman is Watford-based Heather, who tells clients to ‘strive for progress, not perfection’.
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The trained professional dancer was charging £280 for eight one-to-one personal training sessions and discount classes online.
A source said yesterday: “Heather was wary about getting too involved with Matthew too soon, but is head over heels.
“She was trying not to be seen with him, standing away from the stage door when he emerged from show rehearsals and shows. But now the cat is out of the bag.
“Heather is a clean cut, popular woman who was desperate not to be painted as Matthew’s ‘other woman’. She’s not happy about being thrust into the conversation of his celebrity marriage breakdown.”
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The revelation came as The Sun on Sunday can emerge Matthew has been dodging online accusations of relationship skulduggery.
Amid allegations of marriage heartache in recent months – one irate follower posted on Matthew's social media, 'leopards never change their spots'.
And another cryptically asked, 'How can Charley be your soul mate’. The messages were swiftly deleted.
Matthew and Heather were twice seen hand-in-hand, mingling with tourists, before the soap hunk and his devastated wife Charley announced they’d split.
And on Wednesday, the night the marriage was publicly said to be over, giggly Matthew and his new woman kissed and skipped down a busy street together.
Matthew and Charley had tied the knot in 2018 and have three children together – Buster, 13, Bowie, eight, and Ace, four.
They released statements on their Instagram accounts in which they insisted they will remain friends.
Charley's version gushed: "It is with love and respect that Matthew and I have decided to separate.
“We remain friends and our priority is the love for our children. For their sake we would appreciate privacy at this time."
In his own statement, Matthew shared the same words as his estranged wife, but from his own perspective.
But hours later, he was snapped arm-in-arm with his new sexy pal Heather.
Matthew has not been ready to share his new love publicly – keeping her a secret from the majority of his theatre work colleagues.
Earlier this month, Matthew hinted that their marriage was in trouble after he unfollowed his pin-up wife on Instagram.
He had not commented on any of her recent pictures or posted about her in over a year. But the actor soon re-followed her, leading to hopes everything was blissful behind the scenes.
Posting a recent selfie looking downcast, Charley captioned the post: 'Ignoring life and all the jobs I need to do. Also I want more piercings.'
Charley, 35, and Matthew, 43, first met on the set of Emmerdale in 2007 – and by 2009 they were engaged.
The couple previously split in 2013 for two years before having a surprise wedding in 2018.
They tied the knot at Ripley Castle in Yorkshire. Friends thought they were attending a party to celebrate Charley’s 30th birthday.Afterwards, she shared: “That moment when we announced what we were doing and seeing everybody’s reaction is the best moment of my life.”
And Matthew added: “We couldn’t have had a better response. People just screamed for about ten minutes!”
Back in February 2020, following the birth of their third child, Charley said: “I don't feel like I'm finished. I don't know how many kids I want, but I think I'll know when I'm done.“I may not be able to have anymore, so who knows? I feel blessed with three healthy boys so sometimes I feel like it's greedy having another.”
Speaking of her and Matthew's parenting styles, she revealed: “I'm definitely the strict one.
“He's the more laidback, the fun one. He's very hands on as a dad, and so involved with the kids.”
Matthew recently quit Emmerdale after 18 years of playing David Metcalfe and has got stuck into preparing for his new lead role in the West End.
Charley meanwhile left the soap two years ago and her career has gone from strength to strength, with her recently appearing in the ITV drama The Long Shadow.
She has grown close to Sheridan Smith, with sources saying the actress has become a real support to her, both professionally and personally.
Matt has appeared on Loose Women and opened up about their gruelling schedules.
He admitted that his parents have had to step in and help look after their kids.
As his marriage was culled he has returned to the stage this Christmas to play Buddy the Elf, with ex Holby City and Casualty star, and 2008 Strictly winner, Tom Chambers starring as Walter Hobbs.
The family show follows a human raised by Santa’s elves in the North Pole who journeys to New York to meet his biological father.
Elf the Musical, based on the 2003 film of the same name starring Will Ferrell and James Caan, is playing in London’s theatre-land until January 6.
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