Coronation Street offers major Debbie Webster update as Ronnie Bailey plots move (2025)

It was previously confirmed that the show will take on a huge health storyline that will eventually lead to a permanent exit from the ITV soap for the character

Coronation Street has revealed a major update in Debbie Webster's dementia storyline as spoilers for next week's episodes were revealed.

It was previously confirmed that the show will take on a huge health storyline that will eventually lead to a permanent exit from the ITV soap for the character and actress Sue Devaney.

Earlier this month, viewers saw Debbie growing concerned about her memory loss and booked 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 advised her that he wants her to have further tests as he was concerned that she is showing symptoms of early onset vascular dementia.

But shocked by his concern, Debbie decided to keep the potential diagnosis to herself and initially said nothing to her friends and family, particularly following her brother Kevin's recent testicular diagnosis.

But her recently returned younger half-brother, Carl Webster, has uncovered the news and is encouraging her to be honest with her loved ones, including partner Ronnie Bailey after she asked him to marry her, days after turning him down.

In new spoilers, it's now been revealed that Carl will be by his sisters side as she is formally given her diagnosis. Debbie swerves an invitation for lunch with husband-to-be Ronnie as she is going to the hospital with Carl who makes out they are going to a meeting.

Once at the appointment, the neurologist confirms to Debbie that she has vascular dementia, but as long as she leads a healthy lifestyle, she can carry on as normal for the time being.

After he found out about her tests earlier this month, a shocked Debbie makes it clear to Carl that she wants to keep her diagnosis to herself for now and she’s not ready to tell the family.

Debbie is left upset to see what the future holds when a woman with dementia approaches her outside the clinic. Back at home, an excited Ronnie tells her Ronnie calls at the hotel and excitedly reveals that he’s put in an offer on No.6. How will Debbie react?

It seems it may be badly as later in the weekend, Debbie calls with his things and assures a heartbroken Ronnie he’s done nothing wrong, it’s her.

Corrie 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, from Ashton-under-Lyne and who has played Debbie on and off for four decades, also spoke about the reaction from fans to the news of Debbie's diagnosis, with gutted and calling for soap bosses to change their mind.

"It's really lovely that Debbie is loved," Sue said. "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."