Very Sad News: Charley Webb Opens Up on Heartbreaking Diagnosis – ‘I Can’t Bear It!

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

Towards the end of last year, Charley Webb received diagnoses of both ADHD and autism. She’d been living with both her whole life without knowing it — and the revelation landed like a key turning in a lock she hadn’t realised was there.

“I think my autism is definitely stronger than the ADHD side,” she told Luke Hamnett on his podcast Live, Laugh, Luke. “I think it’s definitely more autism. But even that, I think, is mild. And I think everyone has this idea of autism like it’s just one thing, and it’s really not.”

That willingness to complicate the picture — to push back against the idea that neurodivergence is a single, monolithic thing — is exactly the kind of nuance that fans have responded to. Her openness has resonated with listeners who’ve either received similar diagnoses themselves or recognised the symptoms she describes in people they love.

The Noise Is the Hardest Part

For Webb, the most immediate impact of understanding her autism has been making sense of something she’d always found overwhelming: noise. Having three young sons has made this a very present reality.

“Sometimes when I get back and I’ve been away from the boys, I forget how loud they are,” she said. “It takes me so long to readjust. I’m really overstimulated because they’re just so loud. Noise is my biggest trigger. I can’t bear it.”

The admission struck a chord with fans — not just those who share similar sensitivities, but anyone who has tried to reconcile the chaotic love of parenthood with a need for quiet that feels non-negotiable.

Her Approach to Parenting — and Why She’s Unapologetic About It

Webb operates a week-on, week-off custody arrangement with her ex-partner Matthew. She’s been upfront about the fact that the time apart from her sons makes her a better mother when she’s with them — and she’s made peace with that truth even when social media hasn’t.

“At first it was really hard. For 50% of the time I was like, ‘Where are my children?’ But now I’m living my best life. I’m so much better when I’ve had a week off from them. I can be a really good mum because I’ve had a break.”

She’s equally unapologetic about what she calls “character building” — giving her sons independence rather than hovering. “They don’t get fed, and they don’t complain. I am like, ‘Get your takeaway. I’ve got to go… order what you want, I’m out.'” To critics who suggest she should be spending more time with them on her weeks off, she’s clear: “I have a week off, and I’m going to do what I want.”

No Return to the Dales

Fans hoping to see Debbie Dingle back in Emmerdale will need to keep waiting. Webb has confirmed there are no plans for a return. “I think it wouldn’t be the right time. Having three kids is a lot, and also working there is a lot.” Both things can be true, and she’s not pretending otherwise.

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