Former Emmerdale star Charley Webb has hit back at trolls who have criticised her co-parenting arrangement. The actress, who played Debbie Dingle in the ITV soap, shares three sons – Buster, 16, Bowie, 10, and Ace, six – with her ex-husband and former co-star Matthew Wolfenden.

The former couple split in 2023 after five years of marriage, having been together for 15 years.

Since then, they have maintained a week-on, week-off co-parenting arrangement, although it has attracted criticism on social media.

Speaking on the Live, Laugh and Luke podcast with Luke Hamnett, the 38-year-old explained: "We have them a week on, a week off, which I love so much because I get so much [backlash] on social media.

"Like, 'Are you not with the kids?' I'm like, 'Listen Brenda, I have a week off and I'm going to do what the f**k I want'."

Reflecting on her recent trip to Australia with Sheridan Smith, she went on to say: "If I want to go to Australia, I am going.

"But actually, to be fair, I was away for a little bit longer than my week, but still Susan shh!".

Charley admitted she initially found the arrangement difficult but has since come to realise it has made her a better mum.

"Anyway, yeah I think I've got used to it now," she added. "At first it was really hard it was 50 per cent of the time and I thought, 'Where are my children?'

"But now I'm like, I'm living my best life because you know what, I'm so much better when I've had a week off from them.

"I'm like I can be a really good mum now because I've had a break. But obviously it's not ideal, you sort of have to find the joke in it and have to find the fun in it or you would go a bit mad."

Charley went on to insist the arrangement was Matthew's suggestion and one she fully respected.

"It doesn't feel like enough but their dad wanted 50 per cent of the time and of course you know, I respect that," she added.

"But actually sometimes when I get back and I've been away from them I forget how loud they are and it takes me so long to like re-adjust, I'm like, 'Guys I'm really overstimulated' because they're just so loud, it's three boys."

Matthew has also previously spoken about the co-parenting arrangement, explaining that it works particularly well because the pair live so close to one another.

"It works really well. We're living across the road from each other, so we see the kids even when it's not our week and all the time," he told The Mirror.

Sharing his advice for other separated couples navigating co-parenting, he continued: "You do just have to learn a lot as you go. It's all new. I think everyone's different, so you've got to create your own path.

"The most important thing is to think of the children. As long as they're happy and thriving, then I think you've done a good job."