Truth behind Sheridan Smith and Charley Webb’s ‘deep’ relationship revealed – and how stunning model caused rift
Insiders tell us that Charley spent Christmas together with the stunning model while Sheridan was no where to be seen
STANDING on the sidelines, Charley Webb grinned broadly as she watched Sheridan Smith zoom around during a motorbike lesson.
Charley was living up to her self-proclaimed ‘hype girl’ role and proving that once again, the women are inseparable after spending six months apart. Here, insiders tell us what’s really going on with the pair – and how Charley’s friendship with a stunning model caused a rift that almost blew their relationship apart for good.
Just this week, Charley, 38, and Sheridan, 44, got their second matching tattoo – this time a pair of penguins.
Penguins are known for being fiercely loyal to each other as well as being excellent co-parents, and in a nod to their commitment to each other, Charley captioned the snap “lifers”.
It’s hard to believe that just a few months before, the women weren’t speaking, and Charley had moved out of Sheridan’s home, but the space has only brought the pals closer together, a source revealed.
They said: “Charley and Sheridan have never been closer than they are now.
“The time apart really made them realise how much they need each other.”
When they first became good friends, following Charley’s split from Emmerdale actor Matthew Wolfenden, it was Sheridan who provided a shoulder to cry on, but we’re told that over time that dynamic shifted.
Now, Charley is truly the supporting actress to her leading lady, Sheridan, who has provided her with the support and safe place she needed to thrive.
We can reveal that Charley is set to follow Sheridan to Australia in the coming weeks as she films new ITV thriller Two Birds.
Our insider explained: “Charley is used to following Sheridan to film sets, and this is no different. Sheridan has really come to rely on her support – and also the extra childcare help as a single mum.
“They have a very intense friendship and have really thrown themselves into it again after time apart.”
And her support has really paid off – Sheridan’s career has gone from strength to strength with endless roles.
Charley hasn’t had quite the same joy since quitting her role as Debbie Dingle in Emmerdale in 2021. She recently appeared on stage in The Ladies Football Club and has landed a few small parts in TV dramas.
The source said: “Charley and Sheridan are at very different places in their career but are very supportive of each other. Sheridan will always be the leading lady, but behind every one of them lies a great woman.”
The feeling is clearly reciprocated, though – on a recent podcast, Charley admitted: “I honestly could not live without my friends.”
Sheridan once again became a source of comfort for Charley when her beloved mum Helen passed away on Mother’s Day following a 12-year battle with Alzheimer’s.
Charley’s brother, fellow soap star Jamie Lomas, shared the news on Instagram, writing: “Our mum was always so strong and to watch her over the years slowly turn into someone who is just a shell of who they once were is very difficult to take and watch.”
Charley revealed she had almost been left ‘broken’ after she spent some time privately with her late mum in the chapel of rest.
She told how Sheridan had been there for her as she posted a picture of the actress carrying her son on Instagram. She wrote: “My little team have been looking after me.”
Model bust-up
Last year, The Sun told how the pair had cut ties – Charley had been living with Sheridan, but moved into her own place, and the pair unfollowed each other online.
Charley, meanwhile, struck up a very close alliance with a stunning model, and they ended up spending Christmas together – but there was no sign of Sheridan.
Charley’s new friendship is believed to have caused further friction between the pair, who had been drifting apart.
But by February, Bafta winner Sheridan was back on the scene, and the pair announced it was back on as they posted a lip sync video declaring: “What you heard was not true.”
Charley captioned the clip: “Just a trend, guys.”
It sent their fans wild, who had been following their friendship since it first blossomed in 2023.
It was a surprise at first – Charley had just split from Matthew after 16 years together and three kids, Buster, Bowie, and Ace.
Charley moved out of her £900,000 marital home in late 2023. She stayed with Sheridan, finding comfort with her fellow single mum, and they are even said to have got a Pomeranian dog together.
Sheridan has a son named Billy with her former fiancé Jamie Horn, from whom she separated in 2021.
Matthew – who played David Metcalfe in the ITV soap – previously revealed the split had come out of the blue shortly after Charley headed off on her first theatre tour after leaving Emmerdale.
“I didn’t expect it at all; it was a big shock,” he shared. “Separation is very difficult when you’ve spent 15 years together, your lives together and everything you own is together – just sorting out.”
Matthew, who had just quit Emmerdale and was at home raising the boys, was about to temporarily move to London for a West End play.
He said: “It was Charley’s decision. Charley decided she wanted to separate.
“It was hard, it was a hard time for me. I had the kids full-time at that time because Charley was out on tour, and then out of the blue, I got this news that she wanted to separate.
“But things happen for a reason. We had to move onwards.”
Matthew moved on with dancer Heather Scott-Martin, whom he has now been dating for two years, and while things were initially difficult, he is now co-parenting well with Charley.
Now, as Sheridan embarks on her busiest year ever, ITV’s leading lady will have the support of the friend who has managed to put a smile back on her face.
