Coronation Street Blog: March 2025

Monday, 31 March 2025

Debbie's dementia storyline

Coronation Street has revealed a dramatic new trailer giving viewers a first look at Debbie Webster’s dementia storyline.

Watch the trailer here.

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

Glenda Young

Bestselling novelist published by Headline

X: @Flaming_Nora
BlueSky: GlendaYoung

Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Fancy writing a guest blog post for us? All details here!

Coronation Street Episode 31st March 2025

When the continuity announcer says the episode is going to feature "distressing scenes", my heart always sinks a bit. Yep, it's another Issues episode, this time featuring racism in the NHS.

We start off though with Lauren and Little Frankie's transplant, thenn Deedee starts to feel abdominal pains and goes to A&E. Kate Oates Memorial looks more like the NHS as many of us have experienced it, being understaffed and distracted nurses getting your name wrong and not listening to you (to be honest, if it were real life, she'd probably still be in A&E waiting to be triaged). She's sent home, where her waters break (not pictured) and returns to the hospital where a nurse tells her that she's strong and women "like her" are built for this. Nessah Muthy nails it here in terms of the language that people use, stereotyping others without actually meaning to be offensive. She gives birth to a baby girl, but it gets worse as a different nurse tells her not to be aggressive when Deedee says she's not breastfeeding and it's in her birth plan. Again, she's not listened to when she says she's not feeling well and she starts haemorrhaging and is rushed into surgery.

Coronation Street spoiler video: Debbie drops major bombshell on Ronnie | Soaps | Metro News

Poor Debbie's not having a great day either. First of all she puts up with Bernie flashing her badges at Ronnie, but she's not that threatened. "Why would you want tofu when you have tenderloin sat right in front of you," she purrs but then turns Ronnie down for some afternoon delight as she's looking after Alfie so Kev can rest. This doesn't go to plan as she storms out into the ginnel when Mick is playing loud music again and is later found by Ronnie, bleeding and disoriented. I guess the petition to reverse the decision to have a dementia story featuring Debbie hasn't been successful. Ronnie suspects Mick and threatens him in the Rovers.

JENNY - CHRISTINA - CORONATION STREET - ITV

Jenny and Daisy continue their feud, exacerbated by the return of Christina who gets her hands on Jenny's pumps and flirts with Steve (is Mr McDonald using a new aftershave or sommat?). Jenny grapples with Christina and the former ends up covered in beer. Daisy tells Jenny that she said some horrific things. Pot, kettle, hun. They make up, but it's revealed that Daisy called Christina and there's an evil plan afoot. Is this Daisy's leaving story, finally?

Talking of ungrateful daughters, Betsy moans to Nina that her mum was thinking more about Carla than her when Swain burst into no. 1 when Rob was holding Carla hostage. Wah wah wah. This ungrateful brat is going to force Lisa out of the police force and into packing with Kirk, isn't she? Finally, Betsy apologises to her mum and her step-mum.

Rachel Stevenson - on bluesky

Sue Devaney interview: Debbie's dementia and leaving Corrie

How did you feel when you were first told about the storyline?

A mixture of things. Kate called me into the office and she said we've got this brilliant story, and we want to give Debbie dementia. And obviously, down the line, you don't survive dementia. So I knew that the story would eventually come to an end and my character would come to an end. There was a mixture of a lot of things. This was my first job when I was 16 and I left after a year and now it will be coming to an end again. But I also realised this was a really important story to tell and is a really fantastic opportunity to act.

Some papers claimed that I was furious about the story which was completely untrue. The only reason I was concerned about the storyline was because I wanted to be sure I could do it justice. It is an honour and privilege to be given this sort of storyline.

Even before the storyline has gone on air, it seems to have caused a bit of a stir in the public. They are really fighting to save Debbie. What do you make of that public reaction?

It's really lovely that Debbie is loved. And I didn't realize what people thought of Debbie, they love Debbie and that's brilliant. But Debbie's not going anywhere yet. 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. 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.

Do you feel it is important to show that even a young vibrant woman like Debbie's got everything going for her, can succumb to this illness?

Yes 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, you know, and words are important to Debbie. She has a quick wit and everything is so important, money and success. And actually, she's been dealt this hand of this illness and it is going to be interesting to follow her journey.

Did you know much about young-onset dementia before this storyline?

Years and years ago, to get my equity card, I used to entertain people in old folk homes and I was around a lot of dementia. And when I was asked to do it, we were looking after my husband's dad who has dementia, but he's in his 90s. I wasn’t really aware of young onset dementia. I think I'm hearing about it more and more now and awareness is a lot more, but I think maybe less so for people under 65. I think a lot of us have this image of people in a home, older people in their 80s and 90s. But it's a very different story, isn't it, when it's someone who's younger.

So have you done any particular research about young-onset dementia?

I've spoken to my friend who works with dementia patients. She's got a clinic where she sees patients with young onset Dementia so I speak to her a lot. We have been working with Dementia UK, when we had our initial meeting they told me a lot about the tests you have to do and how you are diagnosed with it and where you go from there. I have decided that I don't want to know what is coming up for Debbie, I want to wait for the scripts because in real life you don’t know what is coming. I think it's more interesting to play it like that.

What initially makes Debbie decide to seek a private medical appointment? What specific events lead to that decision?

There are several things. 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 realizes something isn't right because her thinking starts to change.

So, what does Debbie initially think might be causing these forgetful moments?

She probably thinks it's just the menopause, being of a certain age. That is until she talks to the specialist.

How does she feel when the doctor suggests a referral to the memory clinic? Is that a scary moment for her?

Yes, I think it is. It makes her think it's something more serious. Menopause is a scary time for any woman, with hormones all over the place and doing bizarre things. It changes your brain. I spoke to a support worker from Dementia UK, and she said many women think it's just menopause and don't get tested, even though the symptoms can be similar, like brain fog, but on a much bigger scale with dementia.

What does Debbie fear is actually happening to her?

At one point, Debbie wonders if it's cancer, a brain tumour, or epilepsy causing her to fall over. The specialist does a clock test, which I found interesting because, being dyslexic, I thought, "I can't do a clock!" You start to think of all these things. But I think your personality changes. You're not yourself.

You mentioned speaking to people affected by dementia. What did you learn?

One man told me his wife has young-onset dementia and said, "She's not my wife anymore." All the things she loved are gone. It's like a personality transplant. That's what frightens me, and why I wanted to tell this story. With cancer, you know where your body is giving up, but with dementia, it's like your brain is giving up.

Why does Debbie keep all this to herself and from her family? Why is she guarding it? Is it fear?

I can totally understand it. My mum did the same when my dad had cancer. She downplayed it to protect us. I think Debbie is in denial and wants to pretend everything is alright until it's not. She's a protector of her family, even though she doesn't have children. 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.

Glenda Young

Bestselling novelist published by Headline

X: @Flaming_Nora
BlueSky: GlendaYoung

Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Fancy writing a guest blog post for us? All details here!

Preview of today's Coronation Street - Monday March 31 2025

Monday 31 March 2025

DEE-DEE’S PAIN IS DANGEROUSLY DISMISSED At the hospital, Dee-Dee reassures Lauren that Frankie’s stem cell transplant will be a success, but as she does, she’s overcome by pain. Dee-Dee describes her pain to the midwife who tells her to go home and rest. Back at the flat Dee-Dee’s waters break. In the maternity unit, Dee-Dee sits wracked in pain whilst Ed tries to find someone. When a passing midwife makes an inappropriate remark, Ed and Alya are shocked. A doctor takes Dee-Dee’s blood pressure and confirms she’s suffering from pre-eclampsia and the baby needs to come out straight away. Dee-Dee’s terrified. Will her baby be ok and will Frankie come through his transplant?

CHRISTINA GIVES JENNY A PIECE OF HER MIND Still smarting from their row, Daisy tells Daniel that Jenny’s gone too far this time. Christina arrives at the Rovers and Daisy feigns surprise. As Christina makes her presence felt at the Rovers, Daisy tells Jenny that she’s not sure she can ever forgive her for the awful things she said.

DEBBIE’S WOUND UP BY MICK Debbie orders Kevin to get some rest whilst she looks after Alfie, but suddenly the peace is shattered by blaring music from Mick’s house. Ronnie calls to find Alfie alone in the living room. Spotting the back door open, Ronnie heads out. He’s horrified to find Debbie lying in the ginnel, dazed and confused.

ELSEWHERE Cassie admits to Evelyn that she really likes Steve but he wants nothing more to do with her.

Glenda Young

Bestselling novelist published by Headline

X: @Flaming_Nora
BlueSky: GlendaYoung

Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

Fancy writing a guest blog post for us? All details here!