{"id":209,"date":"2025-04-01T02:46:09","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T02:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/209\/"},"modified":"2025-04-01T02:46:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T02:46:09","slug":"coronation-street-legend-breaks-silence-on-debbie-webster-backlash-soaps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/209\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronation Street legend breaks silence on Debbie Webster backlash | Soaps"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Debbie
\n\t\tDebbie Webster will be diagnosed with young onset dementia (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n

Coronation Street<\/a> star Sue Devaney<\/a> has broken her silence on the news her character Debbie Webster<\/a> will be written out of the soap<\/a> after being diagnosed with young onset dementia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last November, Metro<\/strong> was first to break news of the plot, with a source telling us it would be a \u2018devastating\u2019 watch for fans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The announcement was met with a huge backlash from fans of the ITV soap<\/a>, with some even setting up an official petition<\/a> to save the beloved character.<\/p>\n

The months since have seen an increasing number of clues pointing to Debbie\u2019s fate<\/a> as she\u2019s experienced moments of forgetfulness \u2013\u00a0and next week, she goes for tests that will eventually see her officially diagnosed with young onset dementia.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Speaking for the first time about the storyline, Sue said she felt \u2018a mixture of things\u2019 when Corrie\u2019s producer Kate Brooks<\/a> called her into the office to tell her.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018She said we\u2019ve got this brilliant story, and we want to give Debbie dementia. And obviously, down the line, you don\u2019t survive dementia. So I knew that the story would eventually come to an end and my character would come to an end,\u2019 Sue explains.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018There 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.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Coronation
\n\t\tDebbie is shocked when she is referred for more tests (Picture: ITV)<\/p>\n

Sue also refutes some reports that she was \u2018furious\u2019 about the story, calling them \u2018completely untrue\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018The only reason I was concerned about the storyline was because I wanted to be sure I could do it justice,\u2019 she insists. \u2018It is an honour and privilege to be given this sort of storyline.\u2019<\/p>\n

Sue first appeared as then 15-year-old Debbie 40 years ago and stayed for a year before making an unexpected comeback in 2019.<\/p>\n

The actress says she has been surprised by the public\u2019s reaction to news of Debbie\u2019s latest storyline, explaining: \u2018It\u2019s really lovely that Debbie is loved. And I didn\u2019t realise what people thought of Debbie, they love Debbie and that\u2019s brilliant. But Debbie\u2019s not going anywhere yet. <\/p>\n

\u2018Debbie has been diagnosed and this is her journey. The whole of the story is to see her journey, isn\u2019t it? To see this journey and tell it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2018Viewers read things like, oh yeah, they\u2019re killing Debbie off. Well, actually, it\u2019s amazing that they\u2019re giving Debbie this brilliant story.\u2019<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tStatistics and facts about young-onset dementia\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Dementia
\n\t\tThe charity offers support for those living with, or caring for people with dementia (Picture: Dementia UK)<\/p>\n

According to Dementia UK:<\/p>\n