With her condition continuing to worsen, Debbie Webster’s (Sue Devaney) battle with vascular dementia in Coronation Street is put to the ultimate test when she takes centre stage to deliver a speech at an important business event.

For weeks, Coronation Street viewers have seen sharp-tongued Queen of the Cobbles Debbie struggled with symptoms of memory loss and confusion… which her no-good scheming half-brother Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard) is more than happy to take advantage of.

The Worst Webster has been sabotaging Debbie at work to gaslight her into handing over the reins of the Chariot Street Hotel, so he can crack open its bank account like his own personal piggy bank.

This week, as Debbie prepare to give a speech for the Women in Business event, Carl spies another opportunity to scheme…

About to face an audience of Weatherfield businesswomen, nervous Debbie is rehearsing her speech but keeps losing her thread.

Carl assures her it’s fine to read from notes, and he capitalises on her confusion by asking for the login details to the accounts under the pretence of paying the staff. Debbie tells Carl where to find her notebook, oblivious to her brother’s shady intentions.

The moment comes for Debbie to take to the stage. She introduces herself and goes to consult the notes on her table, only to find her screen locked. It’s heartbreaking to see her dementia take hold as she panics and freezes up, unable to remember the password. Will Debbie be able to deliver her speech?

Of course she will! This is Weatherfield’s answer to Deborah Meaden we’re talking about! Closing her tablet, Debbie admits to having dementia and proceeds to give a speech straight from the heart.

Viewers will be cheering to see a glimpse of the Debbie we all know and love as the baddest property tycoon to ever sip a G&T in the Rover’s Return explains what her diagnosis means for her future and how she intends to fight it all the way.