There is much more to come for Debbie (Picture: ITV)
There was an outpouring of grief from fans when it was revealed that Debbie Webster was being lined up for a dementia storyline, with viewers up in arms that beloved actress Sue Devaney would eventually be written out.
However, with the storyline set to play well into 2027, Kate has assured that there is plenty more to come for Debbie as the show takes an authentic time to build up the storyline, much of which will be uplifting and packed with love and humour that Debbie is known for.
‘We’re not galloping our way through the story at all,’ she explained to Metro. ‘We love Debbie. Debbie is brilliant and she’s so funny, and she’s so full of life and joy. There are so many stories that are happening around Debbie that are not dependent on whether she’s got dementia or not.
‘For Debbie, she’s enjoying life. She’s living life. She’s making the most of it. She’s obviously planning for a big wedding with Ronnie, which will happen towards the end of the year.
‘It’s going to be a really gorgeous, joyful wedding. It’s very Debbie in its execution. It smacks of Debbie being lovable and a bit out there.
‘Also, we’ll get to see the debut of the dementia choir that Debbie’s been so invested and involved in. She’s focusing on that because she wants to enjoy the time she has here. She wants to enjoy her love for Ronnie. She’s desperate for her family to get back on an even keel, for her brothers to be united again.
Viewers will see Debbie cement friendships (Picture: ITV)
‘She navigating all this as well as still running a successful business. This story is really in its infancy. And yes, there are some times when she will forget things but she’s living with it.
‘You know, she’s still got a life. She’s not just a person who has dementia. She’s not defined by it at all. Her stories are not defined by it either, for a really long time. So we are just enjoying Debbie being Debbie.
‘The other thing we have as well, which I think is so important to Coronation Street, is Debbie has this real strong group of female friends. We really start to develop and invest in that friendship. Glenda, Sally, Bernie, Christina, Debbie – this gang of women who are navigating life at the same time. They’re doing it with such humour and such loyalty to each other. Watching those friendships develop, there’s a lot of fun stuff coming up.
‘It’s so classic Corrie. The episodes I’m watching at the minute, it’s them on nights out, getting up to mischief. Just really earthy humour with these women. Debbie’s dementia is there, but she’s not in the grips of it. We’re not anywhere near end game.
‘For me, enjoy Debbie’s story. It’s powerful, it’s brilliant. It’s got so many different layers to it. But Debbie will be Debbie for a good while yet. So enjoy all the Debbie-isms that you can get!’