Coronation Street Boss Confirms Debbie Christmas Special
Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks has confirmed a special Christmas episode centered on Debbie Webster, played by Sue Devaney. Brooks says she has already seen it and calls it 'insanely good and powerful', as Debbie's dementia storyline moves into a more serious stage.
Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks has confirmed a special Christmas episode built around Debbie Webster, the character played by Sue Devaney. The coronation street boss confirms she has already watched it, and says the hour is unlike anything the soap has done with the character.
Brooks described the episode as "insanely good and powerful." She added: "This one is a performance like you've never seen before."
Debbie's dementia story deepens
Debbie, the acid-tongued landlady of the Chariot Square Hotel, has been living with dementia on screen. The story began in classic soap style, with Debbie going to prison for a car crash she did not cause. Since her release, it has turned to the day-to-day reality of the illness.
Brooks praised Devaney's work. "Sue is incredible. Every single episode I see, I am just completely blown away," she said.
She also signaled that the tone is changing. "As Debbie's dementia declines, we'll get to the tough parts of it as the family starts to rally around," Brooks said.
The central question now is how Debbie's marriage to Ronnie Bailey, played by Vinta Morgan, will survive her condition. Her close friends, known on the Street as Debbie's Angels, must also work out how they will cope.
The Angels are Abi Webster (Sally Carman-Duttine), Bernie Winter (Jane Hazlegrove), Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins), Sally Metcalfe (Sally Dynevor) and Glenda Shuttleworth (Jodie Prenger).
Abi's rough year
Debbie is not the only character getting Christmas airtime. Abi has had a hard year. Her affair with Debbie's son Carl Webster, played by Jonathan Howard, collapsed and left her without a husband or a partner.
She has stayed close to Debbie despite strained relations with the Websters, and has supported her through the illness. Brooks said the old Abi resurfaces over the festive period.
"It is whether her family and friends are able to make sure that she gets back on the right track," Brooks said. She warned of "a bit of a bumpy ride" and a few curveballs, with Abi's friendship with Debbie still central.
There is more to come in the new year. "There's big stuff coming up in the spring which really puts them at the heart of it," Brooks said.
Christina and Sally linked by Lucy
Brooks also teased significant developments for Christina Boyd and Sally Metcalfe. The two are bound by Lucy Parkinson, played by Anya Dewin, a troubled teenager and cousin of Sally's husband Tim (Joe Duttine).
The couple took Lucy in after her mother Rachel was seemingly murdered by her husband Richie, played by Nathan Sussex, during a heated domestic dispute.
Brooks said the family will play a key part in keeping Debbie supported. "There will be fun along the way, but we start getting to the stage now where it's getting a bit more serious," she said.
