Debbie Webster is a character in Coronation Street who originally appeared from Ep 2420 - 11 Jun 1984 to Ep 2481 - 9 Jan 1985, followed by a return 34 years later in Ep 9889/9890 (2 Oct 2019), and departing again in Ep 9893/9894 (7 Oct 2019), returning again in Ep 10106 (26 Aug 2020). She is the daughter of Bill Webster and his late wife Alison Webster and the younger sister of Kevin Webster. In January 1985, bar Kevin, the Websters moved to Southampton then on to Germany. Debbie returned to Weatherfield in 2019 with some news for Kevin, and left before returning again in 2020. Debbie is another character who has had a total personality transplant during her 35 years away from Wethy as she is now a ruthless property developer, working with Ray Crosby.
The character will leave the show after 2025 in a dementia storyline.
Debbie is played by Sue Devaney.
Biography
Backstory
Deborah Webster was born on the 7th September 1968 to Bill Webster and Alison Webster. Alison died in 1980 when Debbie was 12 and her older brother Kevin Webster was 15.
1984-1985
Debbie in 1984.
Debbie Webster moved into Number 11 Coronation Street with her father and brother in the spring of 1984. She soon got a job working at Jim's Cafe nearby. In August 1984, Debbie got her exam results which were not good. Bill was furious but Debbie explained that since her mum died, she has had to fill her mum's role in keeping the family together, keeping her dad and brother in check. Bill realised this. Debbie dated Dazz Isherwood who was a biker. Debbie and Dazz had a motorbike accident but neither was badly hurt. Dazz was pestered into leaving Debbie alone by Debbie's dad and brother. Debbie then saw Dazz with another woman, and Dazz told Debbie he had met someone else, as he found Debbie was a burden on him. They parted ways for good.
In January 1985, Debbie agreed to move down to Southampton in the South of England once her dad married Elaine Prior. Bill and Elaine married and packed for Southampton. As they got into the taxi outside No 11 Coronation Street, Debbie was waved off by her brother Kevin and her new step great uncle Percy Sugden as the taxi drove away.
After January 1985
Debbie, her dad and stepmother settled down to a new life in Southampton, 200 miles south of Weatherfield. For almost 35 years she never visited Weatherfield, not even to see brother Kevin, instead Kevin went to visit her, and also she has kept in touch with him a few times. In 1986, a year after Debbie moved to Southampton, the Websters emigrated to Germany, where Debbie gained a younger half brother Carl Webster in December 1986, born to Bill and Elaine.
In 2001, Kevin stayed with Debbie for a while. Sometime inbetween 2000 and 2019, Debbie romanced crooked businessman Ray Crosby.
In 2010, Debbie moved to Turkey. Kevin also visited Debbie in November 2016.
Debbie never married and/or had children.
2019-2026
After almost 35 years away from Weatherfield, Debbie returned in late 2019 with some news for Kevin. Debbie will also pass as Annie Lennox's best lookalike north of the Watford Gap. Debbie arrived at Webster's Autos in Coronation Street and got into a mini argument with Abi Franklin until Kevin vouched for Debbie, saying she is his sister. Debbie visited the Rovers and met Sean Tully. Debbie said to Kevin that their aunty Vi has died aged 97 and left Debbie £200'000 in her will. Kevin then had a coughing fit due to the shock. Debbie said she does not need it so will give it to Kevin, and again he did more coughing than Tecwen Whittock. Sophie Webster was pleased to see her aunty Debbie, and Debbie met Paula Martin, Sophie's much older girlfriend. Kevin mulled over the idea of taking the money but declined Debbie's offer. A few days later, Debbie decided to return to Turkey and said farewell to her family and got into a taxi, a throwback to her first exit from Coronation Street in a taxi in January 1985.
Debbie returned in August 2020 to stay with her brother Kevin. Debbie inspected Abi Franklin, Kevin's new girlfriend. Abi told Debbie she has nothing to worry about. Debbie was sympathetic to Abi when she admitted she had stolen some morphine while in hospital and was using again. Debbie knew Abi was friendly with Peter Barlow and warned him to keep away from Abi, worried they were having an affair. It transpired that Debbie had history with sleazy property mogul Ray Crosby. She was helping him to buy out Coronation Street so as to build a new complex there. In the end Debbie backed away, and Ray wanted revenge so he locked Debbie and Kevin in a freezer, he must have heard of the death of Anne Malone in a freezer in 1998, and got ideas. Debbie and Kevin were soon found and saved.
Trivia
- Debbie was introduced in 1984 as part of the Webster family unit. She was written out of the show in January 1985 to depart with her on-screen father Bill Webster, although Kevin Webster was spared and kept on as a long-term character.
- She returned in 2019 after 34 years for a brief stint. She returned to the show full-time for the first time in 35 years in August 2020, and in February 2021 Sue Devaney signed a new contract to remain on the long-term, with it running up until at least April 2022. Sue remains in the role as of July 2022 so has since signed a new contract.
- In November 2024 it was revealed that Debbie would be written out of the show. She will be involved in a long-term storyline involving dementia, and the character will be killed off at some point after 2025. The decision to axe the character was met with backlash by some fans.
Appendices
List of addresses
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Employment history
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Memorable info
Appearances: 11 Jun 1984-9 Jan 1985, 2–7 Oct 2019, 26 Aug 2020–2026
Born: 7th September 1968
Parents: Bill Webster and Alison Webster (Nee Cartwright)
Siblings: Kevin Webster (Full), Carl Webster (half, same father)
Grandfathers: Jim Webster
Grandmothers: Helen Webster
Spouse: None
Children: None
Nieces/Nephews: Rosie Webster, Sophie Webster, Jake Webster, Jack Webster