Sue Devaney talks about the future of her Coronation Street character, Debbie Webster
Sue revealed that her character, Debbie Webster, is struggling with deep guilt over the path Carl’s life has taken. The burden became so intense that when Carl crashed his car after heavy drinking—an accident connected to Billy Mayhew’s death in Corriedale—Debbie stepped in to take the blame.
It now seems that Debbie could be facing a prison sentence, with Sue discussing how her character will undergo a major transformation behind bars. Fans can expect a very different Debbie, including a noticeable change in her appearance.
Her usual glamorous style will be stripped away as she potentially serves time for the crash, all driven by her guilt over keeping secret that she is Carl’s biological mother, not his sister.
Sue explained: “This happened so long ago, when she gave birth to him, and then watched him grow up with his dad and Elaine raising him. In her mind, she thought, ‘yeah, he is my brother.’” (Mirror)
“It’s the story she tells herself. She believed Carl was being raised properly. Back then, she was just 16 or 17 and couldn’t care for him. It’s only when she was confronted with, ‘your life has got an ending,’ and Carl was already part of her life, that all those old memories came rushing back.
“The truth has to come out now. She was willing to take the blame because the guilt is overwhelming. She feels responsible because Carl has endured so many hardships.
“She didn’t realise how tough his upbringing with Elaine had been, so when she discovers the truth, the guilt hits her hard. In her mind, she thinks Carl turned out this way because of her.
“She believes she made him a bad person by not raising him, by not being his mother. All that guilt, shame, and remorse pushes her to say, ‘I’ll take it all on, because it’s my fault. I’m the reason he is like this.’”
Sue confirmed that viewers will see Debbie behind bars, hinting that the court’s decision won’t go in her favour. She explained: “She’s terrified. She’s never been anywhere like that. Everything she has will be stripped away.
“Debbie’s mask is going to come off. The dementia has already taken so much from her, and now prison will take even more. The story is about how she survives it all.”
Talking about Debbie’s transformation in prison, Sue said: “It’s brilliant. Just a touch of mascara, that’s it. Normally, when you play someone, everything about them – their makeup, their look, their car, who they marry – is on display.
“So when all of that is stripped away, it’s fascinating to explore who Debbie really is beneath it all.”
The role has also meant spending far less time in the makeup chair. Sue explained: “I just put on a bit of mascara, mess my hair up a little.
“In prison, she can buy basic makeup, so I use a cheap lipstick, not the fancy Chanel Debbie normally wears. She’ll have a small bottle of budget perfume, so I make sure not to wear my own. And the nails are gone – no nails at all.”
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