ITV Share By Laura Morgan Oct 15 2025 By Laura Morgan Oct 15 2025 Debbie Webster in Coronation Street: Childhood trauma, mission to destroy the Street and dementia battle One of the most popular residents in Weatherfield Coronation Street Share By Laura Morgan Oct 15 2025 By Laura Morgan Oct 15 2025 Debbie Webster first came to Coronation Street in 1984 as a teenage school girl. And what a journey she’s been on since then! After a nearly 35-year absence, Kevin’s sister made a dramatic comeback in 2020. Debbie showed a villainous streak when she and former lover Ray Crosby schemed to redevelop the iconic cobbles. She may have started off as a baddie, but over time Debbie has emerged as a family woman and won the hearts of fans. The plucky property developer is now facing an uncertain future after being diagnosed with vascular dementia. Here we take a look back at Debbie’s past, and why she’s become such a beloved Weatherfield local. Debbie was a mother figure in the Webster household (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Debbie’s early life on Coronation Street Debbie was born in September 1968 to parents Bill and Alison Webster. Her brother Kevin is four years older than her. Article Continues Below Read all the latest Spoilers When Debbie was just 11 she lost her mum to colon cancer. Alison had run the household, so Debbie took on the role within her family. The pressure of caring for her dad and brother made Debbie grow up quickly and crave a life far away from Weatherfield. In 1984, Bill moved his family to Number 11 Coronation Street, after purchasing the property from Elsie Tanner. Debbie wasn’t keen to live on the cobbles, and got on the wrong side of Elsie’s daughter Linda Cheveski. At the time of her arrival, Debbie was dating her former neighbour, Dazz Isherwood. Caught up in their teenage romance, Debbie ended up flunking her exams. Bill was annoyed, but agreed Debbie could leave school on the proviso she got a job. She then started working at Jim’s Cafe. Tragedy almost struck when Dazz took Debbie out on his motorbike and crashed. Bill tried to put the frighteners on Dazz, who then dumped Debbie for an older woman. In January 1985, Debbie’s family set-up changed when Bill married Elaine Prior. Kevin wasn’t a fan of Elaine, but Debbie was more supportive. The couple then decided to move to Southampton and Debbie agreed to join them. She went to work as a hairdresser, while Kevin stayed put on the Street. Debbie with boyfriend Dazz (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) What happened next to Debbie? Debbie relocated to Germany with her dad and Elaine and her half-brother Carl was born in 1986. Over the years, Debbie kept in contact with Kevin via phone. During those absent years Debbie reinvented herself as a successful property developer. She moved to Turkey, where she started dating hotelier Ray Crosby. Ray was wealthy, but unscrupulous and had an eye for the ladies. The couple went into business together, forming Hexappoint Properties. They spent the next few years buying and developing properties. By 2019, Debbie had broken up with Ray because of his cheating and scheming. Debbie always wanted children, but business got in the way and it never happened. Debbie came back into Kevin’s life in 2019 (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Debbie returns to Coronation Street In October 2019, Debbie received news that her Aunty Vi had passed away. She returned to Weatherfield to break the news to Kevin, and attend the reading of Vi’s will. Debbie’s first encounter was with Kevin’s employee (and future wife) Abi Franklin. The ladies clashed after Abi mistook Debbie for Kevin’s date. Abi tried to warn Debbie off, but she gave as good as she got – showing to viewers that she wasn’t someone to be messed with. Debbie discovered Vi had left her £200,000. She gave the money to Kevin, who shared it out with his family. Kev’s daughter Sophie used her share to go travelling in Asia. Debbie nearly destroyed Coronation Street (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Debbie plots to take the Street Debbie returned in 2020 when she joined forces with Ray to change the face of Coronation Street. Their plan was to re-develop the south side of the Street and replace the houses and businesses with a new luxury apartment block, called Victoria Tower. Debbie and Ray started buying up the properties, but kept their plans secret from the tenants. In August of that year, Debbie moved into Number 13 as Kevin’s guest and resumed her rivalry with Abi. Debbie was able to manipulate her former sister-in-law Sally Metcalfe to put her house up for sale, but almost got caught out by Abi. In a bid to throw Kevin off the scent Debbie planted heroin in Abi’s car to make it look as if she was back on drugs. After being granted pre-planning permission, Debbie and Ray went public with their plans. Kevin disowned his sister and kicked her out of the house. Everything then fell apart when it transpired Ray had tried to bribe the committee chairperson. He was then arrested for the attempted rape of Faye Windass. Debbie was sickened to discover Ray’s true colours. She took her revenge by forcing him to sign over his business empire to her. But Ray wasn’t done yet. He then attempted to murder Debbie and Kevin by locking them in the Bistro walk-in fridge. Miraculously the siblings survived several days in the cold, before they were rescued. Ray was subsequently arrested while trying to flee the country. Debbie the ruthless businesswoman Debbie was left a wealthy woman after the Ray drama. She inherited both the Bistro and Chariot Square Hotel as well as a portfolio of other hotels. Debbie was forced by Abi to sell the Coronation Street properties back to their previous owners, but kept Audrey’s Salon and Street Cars. She later let Leanne Battersby and Nick Tilsley buy 50 per cent of the Bistro. In September 2024, Debbie hired Bethany Platt to write an advertorial for a Turkish cosmetic surgery company she had invested in. Bethany took up the offer of a free treatment, but the operation went disastrously wrong, resulting in Bethany having to wear a stoma for life. Bethany’s mum Sarah threatened to sue Debbie, but didn’t have the funds. So she keyed her car instead. Ronnie has vowed to be by Debbie’s side (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Relationship with Ronnie In 2021 Debbie embarked on a romance with divorcee Ronnie Bailey. He’d previously enjoyed a one-night stand with Rovers landlady Jenny Connor, who was gutted when he moved on with Debbie. Ronnie was also a developer, and he and Debbie had matching energy. However, the relationship soon ran into difficulty after Ronnie’s brother Ed was electrocuted by faulty wiring at one of Debbie’s hotels. Debbie then discovered Ray hadn’t renewed the wiring certificate or indemnity insurance. The Bailey family sued Debbie for £30,000, and Debbie was facing bankruptcy due to Ray’s incompetency. Desperate times called for desperate measures and Debbie hired Ryan Connor to stage a break-in at the Bistro so she could claim on the insurance. Ryan was later caught on CCTV and arrested, but Debbie refused to help him. Ronnie realised what she’d done, and dumped Debbie in disgust. This was a turning point for Debbie. She made it up to Ryan by giving him a job at the Bistro and letting him live at the Chariot Square for free. She was also a tower of strength for him after he was the victim of a horrific acid attack. Her kindness made Ronnie realise he still had feelings for Debbie, and the pair resumed their relationship. Debbie’s world has been turned upside down by her dementia diagnosis (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Debbie’s dementia battle 2025 got off to a terrible start for the Webster family when Kevin was diagnosed with testicular cancer. At the same time, Abi began suffering from PTSD, which was a delayed reaction to her son Seb’s brutal murder. Debbie stepped up for the couple and paid for Abi to have private therapy. Debbie also became aware she was starting to experience memory loss. She consulted her doctor, who suspected she was experiencing the first stages of dementia. Debbie hid the news from her family, and turned down a proposal of marriage from Ronnie. Debbie’s brother Carl reappeared in her life just as she got the devastating news that she did have vascular dementia. In turmoil, Debbie ended things with Ronnie and he moved on with Fiona Morley. With only Carl knowing the truth, Debbie was adamant it was business as usual. But her friends were growing suspicious of her out-of-character behaviour, and the truth finally outed after Debbie suffered a mini stroke. Ronnie rushed to Debbie’s side and promised he wouldn’t leave. Debbie now calls 15a Victoria Street home, after losing out on Number 6 in a bidding war with Carla Connor and Lisa Swain. She had a brief stint in a local dementia choir, but was kicked out after trying to get them to sing cooler songs. And now there’s a war going on between the Webster siblings after it was revealed Carl had been having an affair with Abi. Debbie discovered the truth, but couldn’t bring herself to tell Kevin. Now he’s found out and disowned her. But with Debbie facing a challenging future, surely Kev can’t be mad at his sister for long. Debbie and Ryan have a solid friendship (Credit: ITV/Shutterstock) Who plays Debbie Webster in Coronation Street? Debbie is played by actress Sue Devaney (real name Susan Barber). The Lancashire-born star honed her craft at the Oldham Theatre Workshop and changed her name to Devaney. She made her Coronation Street debut in 1984 and left the following year. Sue’s TV career includes roles in Victoria Wood’s iconic sitcom Dinnerladies, The Bill and a three-year stint as paramedic Liz Harker in Casualty. She has worked extensively in children’s television and played the lead role of Rita Briggs in BBC series Jonny Briggs. Emmerdale fans may also remember she appeared as a midwife in the 40th anniversary live episode. When Corrie came calling, Sue stepped back into Debbie’s shoes after 34 years. She originally was meant to stay for five episodes, but returned on a full-time basis in 2020. Sue is an avid traveler and is in a band called The Dunky Dobbers with ex-Corrie and Emmerdale actress Michelle Holmes. Share Good to Know Share By Laura Morgan Oct 15 2025 By Laura Morgan Oct 15 2025 Previous Story Next Story