Coronation Street fans have made a clear plea about Debbie Webster's future after she was heard discussing the possibility of ending her dementia struggle on her own terms.
In April last year in the ITV soap, filmed in Salford, the Chariot Square Hotel owner grew concerned about her memory loss and booked an appointment at a private clinic, believing her symptoms may be related to the menopause. After discussing a series of incidents, shown as flashback scenes, including a blackout and fall, the doctor advised further tests, concerned she was showing symptoms of early-onset vascular dementia.
Debbie's diagnosis and prison stint
Since then, Corrie has documented the progress of Debbie's diagnosis, which was severely impacted during her prison stint earlier this year, after she was put behind bars for causing the death of vicar Billy Mayhew, when it was her son, Carl Webster, at the wheel at the time of the horror crash.
Since her release, Debbie has tried to get back to her usual bubbly self, but has been knocked when her dementia symptoms appear more prevalent. This was the case in scenes aired last week, when Debbie joined her pals in Sally Metcalfe's garden for some drinks. Wanting to show off their new pizza oven, Sally's husband, Tim Metcalfe, wandered over, wearing a chef's hat and apron, as he delivered the food. But a worried Debbie failed to recognise Tim and called him a pervert, before the girls had to explain who he was.
Heartbreaking glimpse into the future
Already feeling deflated from the incident and having vowed to give up drinking, during Monday's (August 3) visit to Weatherfield, Debbie was thrown again when she saw an older lady on the cobbles looking lost and confused. It turned out to be paramedic Sienna Milburn's mum, who quickly rushed to her distressed mum's aid.
Later, Bernie Winter visited Debbie at the hotel, and as she approached, she slammed the laptop lid shut and then took a call. Noticing her friend's reaction, while she was gone, Bernie looked at the laptop for herself and discovered that Debbie had been researching assisted dying. Debbie explained that after seeing Sienna's struggle with Sadie, she didn't want to "put Ronnie through it". But Bernie confided in Debbie that her late son, Paul Foreman, had once considered assisted dying, but thankfully changed his mind. While an emotional Debbie was sympathetic, she felt her situation was different, and got Bernie to promise to keep her plans a secret.
Fans react with dismay
The scenes left Corrie fans upset that Debbie's departure could be sooner than they expected, as they demanded the programme not go down the assisted dying route with the beloved character, played by popular actress Sue Devaney.
@Sjl170 said: "I just don’t want this Debbie storyline, I can’t bear it. #Corrie." @Raq91x commented: "Begging the writers not to go down the assisted dying route with Debbie, I’ve still not got over ar Hayley. #Corrie." @swarlacn posted: "Hitting me real hard tonight that we’re going to loose Debbie Webster next year #corrie."
Reacting to the scenes themselves, @ThomasR14336083 also shared: "Debbie getting a glimpse of her future through Sienna's mother was utterly heartbreaking. #Corrie." @frankham_joanne echoed: "#Corrie Debbie seeing her future was such raw and heartbreaking scenes to watch." @Audz32129841 added: "Debbie's story with Sienna's mum's is a hard watch #Corrie."
