Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street has confirmed that Debbie Webster will face a new enemy amid her prison storyline. Viewers know that Debbie will be locked up after taking the fall for Billy Mayhew’s death last month, with her secret son Carl actually responsible.
During her stint in prison after being sentenced tonight (6 February), she is set to reunite with Lou Michaelis as her carer. However, Debbie is warned of a notorious other inmate called Paula, who has some history with Debbie, as she barred her from the hotel.
“She makes a lovely friendship with Lou, but there’s another inmate who is hard as nails and she gets into a few fights while she’s in there,” star Sue Devaney told The Mirror.
Paula will be played by former Emmerdale star Kelli Hollis, who confirmed her role herself this week after recent reports emerged about her casting.
Sharing a series of TikToks from her first day on set – presumably filmed a few months ago – Kelli said everyone had been “so nice” since she started work, while also crossing paths with some former colleagues who worked with her on Shameless.
ITV
Related: Best streaming services
In a clip walking down the iconic set, Kelli told her followers: “Now I know how people felt when they used to come up to Emmerdale. The bloody Rovers! I’m filming just around the corner… bit of Rovers, f**king hell!”
Before that, tonight’s scenes will see Debbie suffer a TIA mini-stroke in her cell. In the coming weeks, she can also expect a visit from Carl, who had always believed that Debbie was his sister before learning the shocking truth recently.
ITV
Related: Coronation Street’s Sally Carman-Duttine addresses Abi’s dramatic affair fallout
“Carl comes to see her and decides to turn the situation to his advantage,” Sue teased. “He pulls on Debbie’s heartstrings and she says she’ll do everything she can to make it up to him. She’s his mother and she just wants his love, however that is.
“She will still love him whatever he does and when she finds out he’s not moving back to Germany and he’s staying in Weatherfield, in her mind that’s because he loves her and he doesn’t want to leave her.”
Coronation Street airs on weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
For exclusive soap star interviews, gossip, spoilers and theories every week, don’t miss the Soap Scoop podcast from Inside Soap magazine. The latest episode delves into next week’s soap spoilers, from Robert’s feud with Joe in Emmerdale, to Carl’s dangerous new plan in Coronation Street.