The Soap Gods seriously need to give Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) a break.
Okay, when she first arrived, she was no saint. More like an evil Deborah Meaden in league with a sleazy real estate developer determined to bulldoze half of Coronation Street and replace it with tacky hotels.
But since betraying her former accomplice, she’s really grown. She’s been a rock for her brother Kevin throughout his testicular cancer scare, and when their no-good half-brother Carl (Jonathan Webster) had a steamy affair with his wife Abi (Sally Carman-Duttine).
Everything changed with a heart-breaking vascular dementia diagnosis. Suddenly the outspoken, confident scrappy Queen of the Cobbles was becoming forgetful and confused… which Carl was only too happy to take advantage of.
The Worst Webster has been gaslighting his half-sister, trying to trick her into thinking her dementia is getting worse so she’ll take a step back from the Chariot Hotel, leaving him to get his greedy mits on the business accounts and pay off all his debts.
Right now, the only shining light at the end of the tunnel is Debbie’s upcoming marriage to the love of her life, Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan) – organised by none other than Emmerdale’s own Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper). However, Deb’s big day that is under threat by the grudge between Kevin and Carl.
Although her brothers have reluctantly called a temporary truce, whether they’ll be able to keep themselves from glowering in the wedding photos is anyone’s guess. The entire Corrie fanbase is willing Debbie to get her fairytale wedding with her Prince Charming.
But that might not be enough to stop all of Carl’s dirty secrets spilling out for all to say – not least of which, cheating on Abi with James Bailey (Jason Callender) and causing the hit-and-run that put Tyrone in a wheelchair.
Will the happy occasion be ruined by Carl’s worst moments catching up with him? It’s not looking good. When Tyrone arrives at the wedding, Carl heads over to help him… only to be practically shoved out of the way by a clearly fuming Kevin.
Kev takes over and helps his mate to his feet while Carl and Abi look on incredulously. Maybe those wedding photos might be a bit awkward after all…
Have no fear. Although Kev and Carl may come to blows before their second glass of prosecco, showrunner Kate Brooks promises us that Debbie will get the wedding of her dreams.
‘It’s going to be a really gorgeous, joyful wedding. It’s very Debbie in its execution. It smacks of Debbie being lovable and a bit out there. Also, we’ll get to see the dementia choir, the debut of the dementia choir that Debbie’s been so invested and involved in.
‘She’s focusing on that because she wants to enjoy the time she has here. She wants to enjoy her love for Ronnie. She’s desperate for her family to get back on an even keel, for her brothers to be united again.’
That might be a tall order. If you think Carl’s bad choices could put a dampener on Debbie’s big day, that’s a walk in the park compared to the devastation that awaits in Corriedale. The trailblazing soap crossover where Corrie meets Emmerdale which sees several major characters from both soaps behind the wheel caught up in a devastating car crash… including Carl and Debbie.
Along with Abi and Kevin, the Websters find themselves at the very heart of the devastation when the crash happens.
In the Corriedale trailer, Kevin and Abi search among the smouldering wreckage of the crash site for Debbie. The formidable Miss Webster has bravely faced down dementia, but that story always came with an expiration date. Does Debbie go out in a blaze of glory?
