When it was revealed that Coronation Street was going to explore a young-onset dementia storyline featuring beloved character Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney), it wasn’t long before clues seemed to hint that the storyline had begun.
The first indication was when Debbie booked theatre tickets for herself and Ronnie (Vinta Morgan) – who was less than impressed with her timing because he’d told her ages before that he had other plans for that night.
While viewers have seen Debbie making other mistakes, such as losing her purse and blaming Mick (Joe Layton), upcoming episodes will reveal that these things have also made Debbie aware that she might have a problem, and she seeks out medical advice.
Sue Devaney told us it’s a combination of things worrying Debbie. ‘She starts losing things, like her purse, which she later finds in the fridge. She’s behaving erratically and shouting a lot, even at her loved ones, in a way that feels out of control. But I think the biggest thing, when I first read the script, was the TIAs.
‘She has these mini-strokes, falls over, and tries to ignore it. But it’s when she sees the specialist that she realises something isn’t right because her thinking starts to change.’
At the appointment with a private doctor we see Debbie explain the various incidents that have occurred, and we see each of them in flashback, including Debbie losing her temper with Jack (Kyran Bowes), and Debbie falling over in the ginnel but blaming Mick.
Debbie is expecting to be told it’s the menopause, so she’s shocked to hear that she may have suffered a mini stroke and the doctor wants her to have some more tests for vascular dementia.
Additionally the doctor recommends Debbie should tell Ronnie so that he can support her. But as soon as she leaves the appointment Debbie throws herself back into work mode.
‘I think Debbie is in denial and wants to pretend everything is alright until it’s not,’ Sue suggested.
‘She’s a protector of her family. She doesn’t want to worry them. It’s like her world is being exploded. Also, people will treat you differently. She wants people to see her as the Debbie they know, the one who is in control and running a business. She doesn’t want them to see her as someone else.’
Sue is determined to do this story justice. ‘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,’ she said.
‘We’re all frightened of getting older, aren’t we? We’re all frightened of the inevitable that’s going to happen which is going to be death and nobody knows how we’re going to die. Viewers read things like, oh yeah, they’re killing Debbie off.
‘Well, actually, it’s amazing that they’re giving Debbie this brilliant story. She’s been dealt this hand of this illness and it is going to be interesting to follow her journey.’
