Nothing is going right for Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) on Coronation Street, but this time, her dementia is not the only thing sabotaging her…
Weatherfield’s Queen of the Chariot Square Hotel is slowly but surely losing her grip on her beloved business, as well as her marriage to Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan).
Her ongoing struggle with vascular dementia is rapidly declining, affecting every aspect of her life.
But in true Debbie style, she’s refusing to step back and determined to carry on as normal, throwing herself into working at the Hotel and interracting – leaving her employee and friend Ryan Connor (Ryan Prescott) to smooth over her mistakes.
Meanwhile at home, Debbie’s also trying to carry on like the dementia never happened, keen to dial up the romance with Ronnie. But Ronnie is struggling to cope with Debbie’s condition. Because she’s growing more confused, she’s calling him by the wrong name and Ronnie no longer feels comfortable being intimate when his wife is unable to give informed consent.
One thing’s for sure. We are watching the last days of Debbie Webster. Sob.
Of course, that’s not the only drama poor Debs is facing.
An unfriendly face from her prison days, Paula (Kelli Hollis) is fresh out the slammer and back on the Cobbles looking for revenge for the time Debs threw her out of the Hotel bar.
Unfortunately, that revenge might have an unexpected casualty – Adam Barlow’s (Sam Robertson) proposal to Alya Nazir (Sair Khan).
The pair have been together almost two years, and Adam’s finally looking to pop the question. However, in next week’s trip to Weatherfield, Paula’s machinations put a serious spanner in the works… and Debbie gets the blame.
After a less than friendly reunion, Paula returns to the hotel and apologises to Debbie for her behaviour. But Debbie remains frosty.
However, it’s clear that Paul’s not sorry at all as she listens with interest as Adamgoes over the details of his marriage proposal plans with Debbie. What’s Paula plotting?
We soon find out when Paula plays on Debbie’s confusion and convinces her that she’s staying in room 108. Having forgotten that Adam booked room 108, Debbie hands over the key.
So Adam leads Alya into the hotel bedroom intent on asking her to marry him… only to find the engagement ring missing.
In reception, Adam lambasts Debbie for ruining his proposal plans. Debbie realises with horror that she gave Paula the key to his room.
Will the proposal go ahead? How will Debbie get out of this one?