Coronation Street boss confirms ‘insanely good’ Christmas episode that will blow you away

Coronation Street boss confirms ‘insanely good’ Christmas episode that will blow you away | Freelance Soaps Reporter Published November 8, 2026 8:00pm Who’s on the naughty list in Weatherfield? (Shutterstock/ Getty/ Metro) Break out the brussels sprouts, because Christmas has come early! Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks is here to lift the lid on a special festive episode all about our beloved Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) Let’s be honest. We’re all dreading Debbie’s last Christmas. With her dementia on the rapid decline, it’s going to be tough to say goodbye to the feisty, acid-tongued, Voddy-loving Queen of the Chariot Square Hotel. Does anyone really want to spend December 25th bawling on the sofa while alternating between a box of Kleenex and a box of Quality Street? No. Yes. Sort of. It’s complicated. The way this story has been told, coupled with Sue Devaney’s stellar performance, has been as close to watching a loved one struggle with dementia as television can get. The lapses in memory, the confusion, the heartbreak. Watching Debbie deal with every challenge with bags of warmth and dry Mancunian wit has resonated with a lot of viewers on a personal level, myself included. Debbie’s battle with dementia has been a heart-wrenching, yet joyous watch. (Picture: ITV) While the set up to the story was classically soapish – going to prison for a car crash she didn’t cause – since her release, the tone has shifted to dealing with the day-to-day life with the disease, which is of course, infinitely more devastating. Now the main source of drama is how her marriage to Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan) is going to survive her condition, and how Debbie’s Angels – Abi Webster (Sally Carman-Duttine), Bernie Winter (Jane Hazlegrove), Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins), Sally Metcalfe (Sally Dynevor) and Glenda Shuttleworth (Jodie Prenger) – and how they will cope without her. More importantly, how will WE cope without her? With Christmas round the corner, Kate Brooks confirms a special episode for Debbie that sounds like one to remember. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. ‘We’ve got some really special stuff coming up with Debbie. Sue is incredible. Every single episode I see, I am just completely blown away. We’ve got a really special episode coming up over the Christmas period, which I viewed yesterday. It’s insanely good and powerful. This one is a performance like you’ve never seen before.’ Debbie’s Angels have been a tower of strength. (Picture: ITV) ‘As Debbie’s dementia declines, we’ll get to the tough parts of it as the family starts to rally around. A family will become really key ingredients into rallying around her and making sure that she’s okay and she’s supported. There will be fun along the way, but we start getting to the stage now where it’s getting a bit more serious.’ Debbie’s not the only one set to take centre stage for Christmas. Abi Webster has had a bit of a rough year too. After her affair with Debbie’s toerag son Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard) blew up in her face, Abi was left without a husband and without a partner. Despite awkward relations with the Websters, she stayed besties with Debbie and has supported her throughout her dementia battle. Abi is one of Debbie’s dearest friends. (Picture: ITV) But it sounds like the focus will be on Abi in upcoming episodes, Kate Brookes teases exciting new material for the Weatherfield favourite coming early next year. ‘We’ve seen a bit of the old Abi crop up. The old Abi reemerges in the Christmas period, but just seeing the different place she’s in now, it is whether her family and friends are able to make sure that she gets back on the right track.’ ‘It’s going to be a bit of a bumpy ride. There’s a few curveballs, but a friendship with Debbie as well is very kind of important. There’s big stuff coming up in the spring which really puts them at the heart of it.’ Last but not least, there’s big stuff ahead for Christina Boyd and Sally Metcalfe, two of Debbie’s Angels. But that’s not all they have in common. They’re bonded by troubled teen Lucy Parkinson (Anya Dewin), the cousin of Sally’s husband Tim (Joe Duttine), who the couple took in after her mother Rachel was seemingly murdered in a heated domestic dispute by her husband Richie (Nathan Sussex) And because this is soapland, of course Lucy just so happened to be Christina’s secret grandchild. Sally and Christina have a troubled teenager in common. (Picture: ITV) Christina’s secret may be under wraps for now, but according to Kate Brooks, that might be about to change soon. ‘The Lucy story, what I love about Christina and Sally is that you’re never quite sure where it’s going to land, whether they’re going to end up exploding or whether they’re going to be hugging and kind of telling each other how wonderful they are. I love that unpredictability about it.’ ‘ In terms of the Lucy story, that does reach a big climax soon and it puts Christina and Sally at the heart of it. Lots of stuff for each of these women, but the key thing that doesn’t change is their friendship.’ That’s what I call a selection box of spoilers! Deals of the Day Cold mornings are coming and this is the dressing gown I want to live in We're adding this discounted NEOM gift set straight to basket Want an LED face mask for less? This Black Friday deal could save you hundreds This teeth whitening sale could save you up to 64% before Black Friday These Simba Black Friday deals are too good for tired shoppers to ignore Arrow MORE: Sally is stunned when Tim delivers unexpected news on Coronation Street Arrow MORE: Coronation Street confirms chaos as lives are changed forever in special Debbie episode Arrow MORE: Coronation Street boss reveals major Christmas and 2027 stories for six legendary characters The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.