Coronation Street character Debbie Webster – played by actor Sue Devaney – is set to be diagnosed with dementia as part of a major storyline on the ITV soap opera next year
Sue Devaney is “already putting her all” into the storyline on Coronation Street in which her character is diagnosed with dementia and “hopes to raise awareness”.
It was reported last month that character Debbie Webster – played by Sue, 57 – will receive the diagnosis in scenes set to air on the ITV soap next year. The storyline is expected to run for some time before concluding with Debbie’s death. Fans shared their devastation over the news and an insider has now told the Mirror that Sue hopes the storyline will raise awareness of dementia. It comes after the show received acclaim for the storyline in which character Paul Foreman (Peter Ash), who died on-screen in September, had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND).
The insider told us: “Sue is a total professional and is already putting her all into what she sees as hugely important long running storyline. She saw the positive impact of the MND storyline and hopes that her dementia story can have the same effect and raise awareness of the condition.”
The diagnosis is expected to air in the coming months and be one of the biggest storylines on Corrie next year, with it being introduced by the show’s new producer Kate Brooks. News of the storyline first emerged just weeks ago.
Teasing what to expect, a source previously told Metro that the storyline will give Sue – who, after last appearing in 1985, returned to the show in 2019 – “her time in the spotlight”. The source said at the time: “It’s one of the show’s biggest storylines of the year, and a real chance for Sue to finally get her time in the spotlight – it will just be devastating for fans that it will effectively be her final storyline.”
The source further commented: “It’s one of many major storylines new boss Kate Brooks has in the bag, and there will not be a dry eye in the house. There is no doubt in the Corrie family that she will give the performance of a lifetime and make Debbie’s exit one to remember for years.”
Debbie was introduced as the sister of Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell), who is himself set to be diagnosed with cancer on the show in the coming weeks, in 1984. The character however left Weatherfield the following year. The character was referenced on Corrie over the years before making her return in 2019. She has remained on the show since then and has featured in various storylines over the last five years.
If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Dementia UK.
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