Debbie Webster's dementia battle on Coronation Street is set to take a dramatic turn, with actress Sue Devaney revealing the worsening condition leads her character to a brutal decision. The past months have seen Debbie feuding with her secret son Carl, who has exploited her declining health and memory problems, even letting her take the blame for a car crash.
Speaking about Debbie's mindset, Devaney explained that her character reaches a breaking point, realising she must put herself first. With Carl making enemies and risking his own life, Debbie decides she has had enough of the hurt and lies. 'She goes, enough now. She's put up with enough. Carl's her son and he's broken but she can't fix him,' said the actress.
The final straw may come when Carl destroys Debbie's hotel and threatens the wedding of Lisa Swain and Carla Connor. Devaney described Debbie as 'absolutely devastated' that the big day could be ruined, adding that her character is still trying to fix things despite her foggy head. The wedding was something for Debbie to look forward to after leaving prison.
Devaney hinted that while people with dementia can sometimes become violent, Debbie's revenge might be verbal. 'I think she could kill him with words rather than actions, but sometimes that's worse isn't it!' She also noted that if Debbie's husband Ronnie Bailey or brother Kevin Webster were to kill Carl, Debbie would never forgive them.
The actress praised the storyline for its realism, consulting a specialist to ensure accuracy. 'It's really moving,' she said, and expressed hope that viewers will see more of Debbie's fun side with her girlfriends in the coming months, including potential spa trips and quality time with friends, similar to her own close-knit group.
