Coronation Street’s Debbie Webster was imprisoned for crimes she did not commit before her health took a turn for the worse on Friday’s episode of the world’s longest-running TV soap
21:00, 06 Feb 2026Updated 21:04, 06 Feb 2026
Debbie Webster was sent to prison in Friday’s Coronation Street(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street fans were left in tears as Debbie Webster was imprisoned for a crime she did not commit. The hotelier, who is played by Sue Devaney, had decided to take the blame for the crash Carl Webster caused in the programme’s crossover with Emmerdale earlier this year.
The collision claimed the life of kindly vicar Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) and it was later revealed that Debbie, who was introduced as Carl’s sister, was in fact his biological mother.
In deciding to take the blame for him, she pled guilty and on the day before the sentencing, she blurted out the truth to him. As the world’s longest-running TV soap continued on Friday night, Debbie, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia last year, prepared for her sentencing and Carl had still not forgiven her, deciding not to confess his guilt in light of the revelation.
READ MORE: Coronation Street star Sue Devaney told she’d never act again without extra boneREAD MORE: Coronation Street fans ‘work out who kills Carl Webster’ as there’s ‘no saving villain’
Carl has washed his hands of his sister since she revealed that she’s actually his mother (Image: ITV)
Over a confrontation in the café, Carl cruelly told his mother: “There’ll be no emotional goodbye. No prison visits. As soon as I can sort it, I’m out of here. This is us. Done.”
Carl did not turn up to support Debbie in court, but the rest of her family were there and she was initially sentenced to four years behind bars, then received a reduction for plea. After being sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.
Through tears, Debbie was taken down as she said: “I need to give my husband a kiss. I haven’t got my makeup bag or anything!” Once in her cell, she quipped: “I don’t suppose there’s any room service?” but quickly took a turn for the worse and it was clear that something was not right.
She exclaimed: “I can’t see!” over and over again, and shouted for help. It was then that her husband Ronnie received a call to inform him that she had been taken to hospital having suffered a TIA, often known as a “mini-stroke.”
Debbie ended up in hospital at the end of the episode (Image: ITV)
In the final scene, Debbie woke up in her hospital bed where a nurse said: “You’re in the hospital, my love. Remember? Best place for you right now, OK? Bet you could murder a brew!”
Clearly very confused as to what had happened, Debbie burst into tears and was in hysterics when she realised she had been handcuffed to a police officer. The ITV soap has a long history of running storylines where characters have been wrongly imprisoned, with icons like Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride), Sally Webster ( Sally Dynevor ) and Roy Cropper (David Neilson) all having been put behind bars for a crime they did not commit.
But in Debbie’s case, fans were left “confused” as to how it could have happened in the first place, Even though Carl cruelly moved Debbie to the driving seat when she was out cold, she still had significant bruising from her seatbelt on the side of her body that would mean she was in the passenger seat when it happened.
Taking to X, one viewer said: “I know it’s only fiction but… They can’t do this to Debbie [sad face],” and another said: “Still confused about #Corrie.
“The van driven by Billy overturned avoiding the crash of Becky & Lisa -Carl and Debbie’s crash happened after. Why is Billy’s death Debbie’s fault? And if Police knew C and D condition from medical reports-they also be aware of seatbelt bruising.” A third wrote:” Nooo Debbie can’t go to prison for that long. No! Ffs. It’s so stupid!”
A fourth said: “Debbie – “I haven’t got me make up bag or anything [crying emoji, heartbroken emoji],” and another wrote: “Just watched tonight’s episode of #Corrie – That last scene was Debbie was devastating!”
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and is available to stream from 7am on ITV X.* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads