She has spoken for the first time about her eventual exit from the long-running show as fans were given a first look at her heartbreaking new storyline
Coronation Street star Sue Devaney has spoken for the first time about her eventual exit from the long-running show as fans were given a first look at her heartbreaking new storyline.
It’s previously confirmed that the actress will take on a huge health storyline that will eventually lead to a permanent exit from the character and the actress.
In next week’s episodes of the ITV soap, Debbie grows concerned about her memory loss and books 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 advises her that he wants her to have further tests as he is concerned she is showing symptoms of early onset vascular dementia.
But shocked Debbie decides to keep the potential diagnosis to herself and initially says nothing to her friends and family, particularly following her brother Kevin’s recent testicular diagnosis.
Sue has now spoken for the first time about the storyline and asked how she felt when she was told what was being lined up for Debbie, the soap star said: “A mixture of things. Kate called me into the office and she said we’ve got this brilliant story, and we want to give Debbie dementia.
“And obviously, down the line, you don’t survive dementia. So I knew that the story would eventually come to an end and my character would come to an end.
“There 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.
“Some papers claimed that I was furious about the story which was completely untrue. The only reason I was concerned about the storyline was because I wanted to be sure I could do it justice. It is an honour and privilege to be given this sort of storyline.”
The actress, 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.”
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.
Sue has also been doing her own research. “I’ve spoken to my friend who works with dementia patients,” she shared. “She’s got a clinic where she sees patients with early onset Dementia so I speak to her a lot.
“We have been working with Dementia UK, when we had our initial meeting they told me a lot about the tests you have to do and how you are diagnosed with it and where you go from there. I have decided that I don’t want to know what is coming up for Debbie, I want to wait for the scripts because in real life you don’t know what is coming. I think it’s more interesting to play it like that. “
She heartbreakingly added of what she has learnt so far: “One man told me his wife has early-onset dementia and said, ‘She’s not my wife anymore’. All the things she loved are gone. It’s like a personality transplant. That’s what frightens me, and w”hy I wanted to tell this story. With cancer, you know where your body is giving up, but with dementia, it’s like your brain is giving up.
