Dementia plot terrifies me, but the story has to be told

Corrie's Sue Devaney on dramatic plot line

- SUE CRAWFORD

LOVED by fans as the feisty owner of the Chariot Square Hotel the centre of Weatherfield's illicit liaisons - Debbie Webster is one of the best characters to grace Coronation Street for years.

And when Sue Devaney, who plays her, was asked to consider a storyline in which Debbie is diagnosed with early onset dementia, she needed time to take stock.

This week, as Debbie starts discovering the seriousness of her memory lapses, she will have her own defining moment at the Chariot - when her hunky fella Ronnie proposes.

Sue, who was approached about the challenging storyline last September, says she had discussions with her husband and close friends in the cast, as well as the producer, before agreeing.

She says: "I was a bit frightened. It's not like a drama series where you might be doing it for six weeks. This is playing someone with dementia for one, two, three years. It was a case of, 'Can I do it? Am I ready?'. I don't do things by halves. I'm all in or all out."

Recalling the meeting with cobbles boss Kate Brooks, Sue, 57, recalls: "Our first chat was really thorough. She said, 'I love Debbie and I want you to tell this story. It's going to be a heartbreaking journey of emotion and honesty.

"Sad, hopeful, uplifting and truthful. Will you do it?

FEAR

"I went home and didn't sleep a wink. I talked it through with my husband. He said, 'What would be the reason for not doing it?'. I realised it was fear.

"I love playing Debbie, so I had to get my head around Debbie dying. And because I'm a woman of a certain age, I like to potter about in the background and be the little comedy sidekick!