Coronation Street fans are once again up in arms over the decision to kill off show legend Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney).
Last year, Metro exclusively revealed that the iconic character is set to be at the centre of a heartbreaking storyline that will see her diagnosed with dementia, and ultimately lead to her exit.
News of the storyline left fans frustrated, so much so that they launched a petition, begging bosses to change their minds and keep Debbie. At the time of writing, the petition has amassed 2, 266 signatures.
In recent scenes, Debbie has been showing signs of the illness, after forgetting certain things she has seen or been told.
Metro readers have been expressing their devastation around the storyline with Eileen saying: ‘She needs to stay, she brightens things up.’
‘Debbie is one of the best characters on the street disgusting what they are doing’, Ailsa wrote, while Rita agreed, adding: ‘She is brilliant what a horrible story line for her why don’t you leave her in the show she is great.’
‘Big mistake one of the best,’ Dawn said, while Paul penned: ‘I can’t believe they are killing her off.’
Addressing the furore, Sue herself said: ‘It’s really lovely that Debbie is loved. And I didn’t realise what people thought of Debbie, they love Debbie and that’s brilliant. But Debbie’s not going anywhere yet.’
The first signs of the storyline were apparent on-screen last month when Debbie was left frustrated when the power went out at the Chariot Square Hotel and was forced to call in electrician Mick Michaelis (Joe Layton) for help.
Mick later revealed that it had been a planned power outage, which Debbie had received an email about. Throughout the episode, Debbie put employee Rafael through his paces in comedic scenes, with the ITV soap sharing an Instagram post in support of his plight.
But instead of empathising with overworked Rafael, the comment section was awash with devastated fans hoping for a different outcome to the story.
‘Debbie / Sue is comedy gold, you’re making a huge mistake writing her out,’ one fan wrote after the hilarious scenes.
‘Debbie always makes me smile. Such a shame she’s leaving. Brilliant character,’ another agreed.
‘Please don’t get rid of her. She’s one of the best characters you have,’ a third begged, with 101 other fans liking the comment.
‘I love every scene with Debbie in it, the brilliant Sue Devaney captures her so well but…I also can’t bear to watch knowing her outcome,’ another lamented.
On March 31, Coronation Street officially confirmed Debbie’s story, revealing that they are working with Dementia UK, and will follow Debbie’s journey as she comes to terms with the diagnosis and what it will mean for her and the family.
The confirmation prompted fans once again to voice their opinions on the decision to give this storyline to Debbie.
Metro reader Yasmin wrote on X that they were ‘truly gutted’.
Metro's Soaps Editor Duncan Lindsay says...
It was the exclusive that I never wanted to land in my lap – the revelation that Coronation Street is going to kill off the myth, the legend that is Debbie Webster.
My heart sank as I discovered the news, and I wrote it up with a heavy heart given that Sue Devaney and her alter-ego are by far my Corrie favourites.
There are few characters quite like Debbie and even the prospect of finally seeing her at the heart of a meaty storyline can’t take away the sting of losing someone who is easily one of the only classic-style Corrie characters left.
I, along with many others, have long been banging the drum that Sue and Debbie deserve to be at the forefront of the show – it has been my wish to have her and Ronnie Bailey take over the Rovers and be right at the hub of all of the action.
Debbie epitomises the northern charm that Corrie is known for – she exudes warmth and wit and delivers her acerbic and cutting dialogue with finesse.
Sue plays comedy like a pro and, since her 2019 return, she has become more and more grounded as a character, integrating into her family circles and the wider community.
In a show that currently has the police station practically as its main set, the more fun and realistic characters not shrouded by crime, misery and tragedy are necessary to remind us that, yes, that identity that Corrie has long been famous for is still there.
Debbie’s pretty much THE classic Corrie character we have who can still move with the times and feel relevant.
For a storyline that is obviously going to hit home hard, deliver impeccable drama and win awards, the sacrifice still seems a bit too huge long-term.
‘huge mistake to get of Debbie, iconic character fab actress, oh sue. love her, love our Debbie.’ User Kim was in agreement, writing: ‘It’s a bad mistake … huge ?!’
Pauline added: ‘Love Debbie and her one liners, she will be missed. Sorry Corrie wrong Lady to leave.’ Matthew said: ‘While we all get on our knees pleading with them to reverse this ridiculous decision!’
Jamie branded the decision ‘short sighted’ and the ‘worst ever’ adding that Debbie ‘represents the DNA’ of Coronation Street.
Statistics and facts about young-onset dementia
According to Dementia UK:
- An estimated 7.5%, 70,800 of the estimated 944,000 people living with dementia in the UK have young onset dementia.
- Someone develops dementia every three minutes in the UK.
- One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime, whether that be through caring for a loved one with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both.
- 53% of people in the UK know someone who has dementia.
Young-onset dementia support groups and help can be found on the Dementia UK website.
‘It’s one of many major storylines new producer Kate Brooks has in the bag, and there will not be a dry eye in the house,’ a source previously told us of Debbie’s exit.
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‘There is no doubt in the Corrie family that she will give the performance of a lifetime and make Debbie’s exit one to remember for years.’
Sue Devaney, who plays Debbie, has since addressed the fan reaction to news of her alter-ego’s dementia diagnosis: ‘It’s really lovely that Debbie is loved’, she said.
‘And I didn’t realise what people thought of Debbie, they love Debbie and that’s brilliant. But Debbie’s not going anywhere yet.
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‘Debbie has been diagnosed and this is her journey. The whole of the story is to see her journey, isn’t it? To see this journey and tell it.’
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