Coronation Street’s Sue Devaney has said there’s ‘moving’ moments ahead for Debbie Webster, as she tries to adjust to her advancing dementia symptoms amid a feud with son Carl
19:00, 22 Apr 2026Updated 20:28, 22 Apr 2026
Corrie: Sue Devaney discusses playing a character with dementia
It’s been a tough time for Debbie Webster over the past few months on Coronation Street, feuding with her secret son Carl Webster amid her dementia battle.
Even before Carl finally found out his half-sister Debbie was actually his biological mother, he was trying to get his hands on her money, and even let her take the blame for the car crash that led to Billy Mayhew’s death. He’s used Debbie’s declining health and memory problems against her, leaving viewers sickened.
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Debbie actress Sue Devaney has revealed her worsening health ultimately leads to her making a brutal decision. With Carl making enemies everywhere, to the point he’s at risk of being killed off in a whodunnit next week, Debbie realises that with her not having time on her side, she must put herself first.
Sue explained: “I think she’s just had enough. How more of this can she take? She’s reached a point where she’s thinking, okay, how much time have I got left? What am I gonna do with that time? Do I want to be fighting, arguing and dealing with people who are lying to me?
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It’s been a tough time for Debbie Webster over the past few months(Image: ITV)
“She goes, enough now. She’s put up with enough. Carl’s her son and he’s broken but she can’t fix him. He’s hurting me so do I sit in this hurt until I die? Or do I go, no, enough.”
The final straw could be Carl destroying Debbie’s hotel, and threatening the wedding of Lisa Swain and Carla Connor. Sue called it “the wedding of the year”, and admitted Debbie is devastated that Carl’s action could ruin Carla and Lisa’s big day.
She said: “Oh my gosh, she’s devastated, absolutely devastated. She’s done all the room out and it’s wet through. Sometimes when you’re poorly everything seems a lot worse than it is. She’s still trying to fix things.
“Debbie has a solution to everything but sometimes when her head is a bit foggy she panics.” Sue added how the wedding was something for Debbie to look forward to after leaving prison.
Debbie actress Sue Devaney has revealed her worsening health ultimately leads to her making a brutal decision(Image: ITV)
She said: “Debbie’s trying to organise everything and she’s got Ryan [Connor] there helping out and he’s such a solid mate. Its brilliant, I love working with Ryan Prescott.” Asked if he’s the son Debbie wished she had after her drama with Carl, she joked: “Yeah!”
But is Carl’s latest antics enough to make Debbie turn killer and murder her own son? Sue said: “I think sometimes people with dementia can get violent, especially with vascular dementia. But could she kill her own son?
“I think she could kill him with words rather than actions, but sometimes that’s worse isn’t it!” If Debbie’s husband Ronnie Bailey or brother Kevin Webster were to kill Carl, Sue says Debbie would never forgive them.
She explained: “No. Not at all. No. I think it would take a long time to forgive them and Debbie hasn’t got time.” Sue told us how it had been to play Debbie’s story so far, as well as what’s ahead.
If Debbie’s husband Ronnie Bailey or brother Kevin Webster were to kill Carl, Sue says Debbie would never forgive them(Image: ITV)
She said: “I find it really interesting to play and going into that deeper, next journey of the illness. It’s that thing of who’s gonna look after her around that time? Some days she’ll be lucid and normal and then other days she will have a bad day.
“That’s how it happens, so it’s been really interesting to play, it’s really moving. I speak to my friend who is a dementia specialist and she tells me the journey I’m going on and if I am doing it correctly.
“You wanna do it right and I don’t want to not tell the full impact that dementia has on somebody.” But amid the emotional scenes, she hopes to see much more fun, and scenes with Debbie and her girl friends.
Sue said: “I’m hoping you see a lot more of the fun side of Debbie for the next few months, with her girlfriends. Maybe going away, having a good time, maybe some spa time, all the things she loves. The girls are great, it’s like me and my girl friends.
The final straw could be Carl destroying Debbie’s hotel, and threatening the wedding of Lisa Swain and Carla Connor(Image: ITV)
“There’s five of us women from school who get together once a year like we’re 14 again, the laughs. It’s the same with Debbie and her friends. That really strong group of women, all different, as are my friends. I love that.”
Sue also appreciates the fans for their support of Debbie. She told us: “It’s incredible. I’m thrilled. I’ve based this character on women I grew up with, strong, northern, working class women.
“It’s nice to know she’s appreciated cos I’m playing someone that I know.” On what fans can expect from the big murder week, she added: “A lot of adventure, a lot of drama, a lot of tension, and lots of happiness because we have a wedding! We’ve got a lovely wedding, the wedding of the year! And a whodunnit.”
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.