Coronation Street viewers believe they know which character on the ITV soap could be the father of Carl Webster, after the news Debbie Webster is his mother, not his sister
16:12, 17 Jan 2026Updated 16:15, 17 Jan 2026
Coronation Street viewers believe they know which character on the ITV soap could be the father of Carl Webster(Image: ITV)
Fans of Coronation Street believe they know the father of Carl Webster, after Debbie Webster was revealed to be his mother.
Carl has been led to believe for his entire life that Debbie is his half-sister, but this week fans learned the truth. Debbie still had the hospital band which confirmed Carl’s birth and that she was his biological mother.
Now, fans are questioning if the dad is a familiar face. One character who was on the show decades ago and during Debbie’s original stint was Terry Duckworth.
Given when Carl was born and when Debbie left the street, fans believe the dates don’t match and so it’s unlikely she was pregnant when she left. But other viewers have predicted the father is still someone she may have gotten close to, whether she fell pregnant before or after her departure.
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Fans of Coronation Street believe they know the father of Carl Webster, after Debbie Webster was revealed to be his mother(Image: ITV)
A key theory is that villain Terry Duckworth is Carl’s dad, possibly explaining his own villainous behaviour. This would make Carl half Webster and half Duckworth, two legendary families.
One theory read: “Well Carl is a bit like Terry Duckworth in a way.” Another commented: “I think Terry Duckworth is Carl’s dad,” as a third said: “It is very Terry Duckworth like.”
A further fan said: “Saw a TikTok theorising Terry Duckworth’s Karl’s Dad & tbh not only would it explain his demeanour may suggest running over Tyrone wasn’t entirely accidental.”
A key theory is that villain Terry Duckworth (right) is Carl’s dad(Image: ITV/Shutterstock)
Another fan said: “My money would be on Terry Duckworth,” as another agreed: “Definitely could be.” A post also read: “Terry Duckworth I reckon.”
The theory kept on being shared too, as one suggestion said: “I think his dad might be the Duckworths’ son Terry as she used to see him back in the day.” Another said: “It’s Terry Duckworth, Vera and Jack Duckworth’s son, because she was dating in before she left the show all those years ago.”
Other fans claimed there was nothing going on between Debbie and Terry on the show, so this did not make sense. Factoring in the dates too, fans were not sure about it.
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Debbie has yet to tell Carl the truth about his parentage and so it has not been explained onscreen. It’s also not known if Kevin Webster knows that Carl is Debbie’s son and not her, or his, half-brother.
The twist does explain Debbie covering for Carl though, including risking going to prison for his crime. Whether someone will find out Carl was the one driving amid the crash also remains to be seen.
Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .