Coronation Street has revealed a dramatic new trailer giving viewers a first look at Debbie Webster’s dementia storyline.
In next week’s episodes Debbie grows concerned about her memory loss and books an appointment at a private clinic, believing her symptoms may be related to the menopause.
After discussing a series of recent incidents, shown as flashback scenes, including a black out and fall, the doctor advises her that he wants her to have further tests as he is concerned she is showing symptoms of early onset vascular dementia.
A shocked Debbie decides to keep the potential diagnosis to herself and initially says nothing to her friends and family.
Coronation Street producers and the story team are working closely with Dementia UK on this long term storyline which will explore the effects of young onset dementia on Debbie and those close to her.
Over the coming months and years the soap will follow Debbie’s journey as she comes to terms with the diagnosis and what it will mean for her and the family.
Actress Sue Devaney said of the storyline: “It is an honour and privilege to be given this sort of storyline. A lot of people are saying, why give it to Debbie? She's so vibrant and she's so full of life. But I think that is where a good story lies because it's somebody that has everything and also words are important to Debbie. She has a quick wit and everything is so important, money and success. She's been dealt this hand of this illness and it is going to be interesting to follow her journey.”
Coronation Street Producer Kate Brooks said: “With one in two people being affected by dementia, we felt this was such an important story to tell for the simple reason that it resonates with so many people. 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.
We're working closely with Dementia UK to ensure this story is told as truthfully and sensitively as possible - whilst never losing sight of the person behind the diagnosis. This is a story about family, about community, but ultimately this is a story about love, and how love can provide light, even through the darkest of times.”
Young onset dementia is any form of dementia that develops before the age of 65. As dementia is frequently considered a condition of old age, the early symptoms of young onset dementia are not always recognised and may be attributed to other causes.
Comment from Dr Hilda Hayo, CEO and Chief Admiral Nurse at Dementia UK :
“We are pleased to be working alongside Coronation Street on this storyline, which we hope will help debunk the myth that dementia is a condition just associated with old age.
“Our dementia specialist Admiral Nurses support many people like Debbie who are living with young onset dementia and understand the challenges that living with the condition can bring.
“The production team has worked closely with our Consultant Admiral Nurse for Young Onset Dementia to deliver a sensitive depiction of what it’s like to live with the condition. We hope this will encourage people to start having more conversations about dementia and to reach out for support from our Admiral Nurses when they need it.”
Core stats and facts about dementia:
An estimated 7.5% or 70,800 of the estimated 944,000 people living with dementia in the UK are living with young onset dementia
Every three minutes, someone develops dementia in the UK
One in two of us will be affected by dementia in our lifetime – either through caring for a loved one with the condition, developing it ourselves, or both
53 percent of people in the UK know someone who has dementia
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4 comments:
It's so sad that they've decided to give Debbie this plot line when they could have given it to Mary, Dev, Ronnie, Kirk, Tim, George, Gary or Lisa. Debbie is a hugely popular character, she's a webster and is part of the street's history. She really doesn't deserve to be killed off.
I am getting tired of Corrie's constant issue based storylines. Everyone is either sick, a criminal, going to jail, going through some issue, etc.
I'm a Corrie loyalist who has staunchly defended the show for so long, saying 'every soap has it's good and bad patches.'
However, the decision to have yet another long term health decline story (a cut & paste of the MND story), but moreso, giving it to such a fantastic character as Debbie, is an unfathomable decision.
Such a ludicrous decision to kill off one of the show's few remaining characters we're actually still interested in, sadly makes me think that Corrie won't be around much longer unless something drastic changes for the better.
Debbie has the DNA of a classic character and would have been the next generation of "golden oldies" once Rita, Ken & Audrey are no longer on the show.
Sadly we've entered the end of an era....Corrie is slowly committing suicide and it's painful to watch. The revolving door of cast members makes it hard to endear the new characters, and the ones that should be replaced are given more limelight. The medical issues, the crime, the sheer amount of surprise pregnancies is astonishing, the amount of money that is just laying around waiting to be be found just when needed, the endless dinners at the Bistro *doesn't look cheap*....it's a bit much. Belief can be suspended occassionally but not every episode, and stop with the flashback scenes...annoying AF
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