Debbie Webster's (Sue Devaney) vascular dementia storyline takes a troubling turn in Coronation Street this week, as her memory lapses and bouts of confusion become more frequent. The no-nonsense mistress of the Chariot Square Hotel has been living with the life-changing illness since her diagnosis last year, and the downs have gotten worse and more frequent since her stint in prison, caused by her son Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard). Carl caused the Corriedale crash that Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) died in, and gaslit his mother into taking the blame.
Debbie finds Eva after attack
This week's episodes saw Debbie tangled up in the mysterious attack on Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley). The Rovers' Return diva was alone in the pub after closing up for the night when she heard a noise and came downstairs to investigate. The last person she expected to find was a spiralling Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan), who had misplaced his phone and was desperate to find it. In a panic, the troubled teen pushed past Eva, sending her flying down the cellar steps.
In the aftermath, it was a disorientated Debbie who found Eva in the pub while searching for Carl. She was horrified to discover the landlady unconscious, tried to get help, but quickly became confused. It wasn't until Glenda Shuttleworth (Jodie Prenger) found Eva that 999 was finally called. As Ronnie tells Debbie there's an ambulance outside the pub, she suddenly remembers in horror that she saw Eva – another troubling sign of her decline.
Carl questioned over attack
Next week, as Ben Driscoll (Aaron McCusker) sits at Eva's hospital bedside, Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) has questions for Debbie and Carl about Eva's injuries. Carl describes how he helped Eva to clear up because she wasn't feeling well and then returned home.
However, later, when Debbie asserts that she's going to buy Eva some flowers, Carl pulls out his wallet stuffed full of cash. Ronnie and Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) suspect he might have robbed the pub and accidentally pushed Eva down the stairs. The police soon arrive on Carl's doorstep and take him in for questioning over the attack on Eva.
Still protesting his innocence, Carl tries to talk to Debbie about what's happening, but it soon becomes obvious she has no idea what he's talking about. While Carl tries to hide his concern, it's clear that his mother's illness just got a whole lot worse. On average, a person lives about 3 to 5 years after a vascular dementia diagnosis, though some people can live up to ten years with the disease.
