Coronation Street has confirmed plans for Debbie Webster to take centre stage in the show’s next big wedding storyline. The popular character is due to tie the knot with her partner Ronnie Bailey after a very public proposal back in the summer.

Show boss Kate Brooks shared the storyline plans with us at a Corrie press event this week. She also took the opportunity to reassure fans that there are no plans to write out Debbie anytime soon.

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Debbie was diagnosed with dementia earlier this year, sparking criticism from fans who felt the character was too good to lose from the show. Since then, though, Corrie has insisted that Debbie’s story will continue into 2027.

Speaking about the future, Brooks commented: “Debbie’s got ages and ages! We’re not galloping our way through the story at all. We love Debbie. She is brilliant, so funny, so full of life and joy. There are so many stories that are happening around Debbie that are not dependent on her dementia. There are real family dramas that Debbie’s at the heart of.

“For Debbie, she’s enjoying life and making the most of it. She’s obviously planning for a big wedding with Ronnie, which will happen sometime towards the end of the year.

“It’s going to be a really gorgeous, joyful wedding. It’s very Debbie in its execution. It smacks of Debbie being lovable and a bit out there!

“Also, we’ll get to see the debut of the dementia choir that Debbie’s been so invested and involved in. She’s focusing on that because she wants to enjoy the time she has here.”

She continued: “Debbie wants to enjoy her love for Ronnie. She’s desperate for her family to get back on an even keel, for her brothers Carl and Kevin to be united again.

“She’s navigating all this, as well as still running a successful business. This story is really in its infancy. Yes, there are some times when she will forget things, but she’s living with it. She’s not just a person who has dementia – she’s not defined by it at all. Her stories are not defined by it either, for a really long time. So we are just enjoying Debbie being Debbie.”

Brooks also announced plans to expand Debbie’s friendship group, bringing in other characters like Sally Metcalfe and Glenda Shuttleworth.

She said: “I think it is so important to Coronation Street that Debbie has this real strong group of female friends. We really start to develop and invest in those friendships.

“Glenda, Sally, Bernie, Christina, Debbie – this gang of women who are navigating life at the same time. They’re doing it with such humour and such loyalty to each other. Watching those friendships develop, there’s a lot of fun stuff coming up.

“Debbie’s dementia is there, but she’s not in the grips of it. We’re not anywhere near end game. Her story is powerful, it’s brilliant, it’s got so many different layers to it. But Debbie will be Debbie for a good while yet. So enjoy all the Debbie-isms that you can get.”

Corrie has been working with a real-life dementia choir for the scenes which see Debbie getting involved with a singing group as a new hobby.

“It’s a real dementia choir that we’re working with. It’s important to show that there is life, there’s joy and there’s humour,” Brooks said.

“Obviously we work closely with charities as well. A lot of the people we’ve spoken to, the message that they want to get out is: ‘Don’t be scared too much about this’. It happens, and obviously it’s very tragic and heartbreaking and sad, but there are so many moments and so much life to live as well.

“Just because Debbie’s been handed this diagnosis, doesn’t mean she suddenly becomes a completely different person. Debbie’s still Debbie for a long time.”