Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) was recently given the devastating diagnosis in Coronation Street that she has vascular dementia – and she’s determined to keep the news as private as possible for now.
However, that gets increasingly difficult in upcoming episodes when she has an accident at the hotel, leaving Ronnie concerned.
In November news broke that Sue Devaney’s character would be involved in a heartbreaking storyline that will see Debbie dealing with the diagnosis of young-onset dementia and the ongoing symptoms that follow.
Corrie producer Kate Brooks told us, ‘Having a character as vibrant as Debbie Webster, and an actor of Sue Devaney’s incredible talent and calibre, at the heart of this storyline, was key to unlocking the many emotions that come with navigating this diagnosis.’
Debbie saw a doctor after getting worried about a variety of symptoms she’d been experiencing.
She was having mood swings, periods of confusion and forgetfulness and, most worryingly, blackouts. After tests it was confirmed that she has vascular dementia, although she’s been told that if she leads a healthy lifestyle she can carry on as normal for the time being.
So far the only other person who knows about the diagnosis is her brother Carl (Jonathan Howard), who saw an appointment letter in her bag.
Debbie is determined to deal with things on her own, partly because Kevin (Michael Le Vell) is undergoing cancer treatment himself and Abi (Sally Carman) has been struggling to cope with PTSD. So Carl has been sworn to secrecy.
Following the diagnosis Debbie called off her engagement to Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan), telling Carl that she set Ronnie free from possibly having to be a carer for her because she loves him too much.
In upcoming episodes Debbie is in the middle of running a wedding fair at the hotel and it’s a stressful event. Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) is complaining about where the Speed Daal stand has been set up, and a flustered Debbie decides to try to move the stand herself.
In doing so, her hand slips and she cuts it badly. Ronnie insists on taking her to A&E and Debbie is grateful for his help, but when a nurse arrives to take Debbie’s medical history Debbie panics, not wanting Ronnie to hear about the dementia.
She orders Ronnie to go, leaving him once again feeling confused, hurt and rejected.
Will Debbie realise she needs to let Ronnie into what’s really going on?
