Major Coronation Street Christmas with joyful wedding and secrets exposed
Given that the show is already in the midst of filming an episode that will screen in January, it’s no surprise that Coronation Street is already up for chatting about Christmas – it’s not as far off as we’d like to think!
And it is set to be a community driven affair, according to show boss Kate Brooks, with new Rovers family the Driscolls led by Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) at the heart of the drama, with secrets set to be uncovered and tensions rising between the landlady and her troublesome mother-in-law Maggie (Pauline McGlynn).
Elsewhere, there will be joy for Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) as her wedding to Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan) arrives, while there are some big twists to be had for Carla Connor (Alison King) and Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers).
And elsewhere, things ramp up a gear for Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) as Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) continues to abuse him, leaidng to a special, format twisting episode focused on the destructive relationship.
Producer Kate Brooks was on hand to offer more details Metro’s way.
‘So there’s loads going on Christmas Day,’ she smiled. ‘Christmas Day itself is a real family affair. And the Driscolls are very much at the heart of Christmas Day. It’s a proper pub Christmas Day.
‘It’s very community based, very lively. And there will be secrets are exposed and whatnot. So it’s a real feel good episode with a lot of drama as well thrown to the mix.
‘The stories we’ve got going which build to that, we’ve got Ronnie and Debbie, who are very keen to crack on with the wedding and lots of preparation, fun and games for that.
‘The other stories, which are really kicking off around about that time, we’ve got Carla/Lisa/Becky. That really goes up a gear around about Christmas time.
‘There’s a few really big twists that will keep people hooked and keep people watching as they watch this all unfold. So that’s another big story, which will feature heavily around the Christmas period.
Kate offers reassurance over Debbie Webster
There was an outpouring of grief from fans when it was revealed that Debbie Webster was being lined up for a dementia storyline, with viewers up in arms that beloved actress Sue Devaney would eventually be written out.
However, with the storyline set to play well into 2027, Kate has assured that there is plenty more to come for Debbie as the show takes an authentic time to build up the storyline, much of which will be uplifting and packed with love and humour that Debbie is known for.
‘We’re not galloping our way through the story at all,’ she explained to Metro. ‘We love Debbie. Debbie is brilliant and she’s so funny, and she’s so full of life and joy. There are so many stories that are happening around Debbie that are not dependent on whether she’s got dementia or not.
‘For Debbie, she’s enjoying life. She’s living life. She’s making the most of it. She’s obviously planning for a big wedding with Ronnie, which will happen 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 wants to enjoy her love for Ronnie. She’s desperate for her family to get back on an even keel, for her brothers to be united again.
‘She navigating all this as well as still running a successful business. This story is really in its infancy. And yes, there are some times when she will forget things but she’s living with it.
‘You know, she’s still got a life. 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.
‘The other thing we have as well, which I think is so important to Coronation Street, is Debbie has this real strong group of female friends. We really start to develop and invest in that friendship. 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.
‘It’s so classic Corrie. The episodes I’m watching at the minute, it’s them on nights out, getting up to mischief. Just really earthy humour with these women. Debbie’s dementia is there, but she’s not in the grips of it. We’re not anywhere near end game.
‘For me, enjoy Debbie’s story. It’s 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!’
‘And there’s also Todd and Theo. Christmas is often a time where there’s a lot of spikes in calls to the Samaritans. We wanted to really show Todd and Theo’s journey in the lead and the build to Christmas.
‘We’ve got a really special episode which is just focused primarily on their relationship, but it’s told in a completely different, unique, never-been-done-before, way, which will really pack a punch on many levels.
‘Away from that, there’s obviously, the Websters. Abi, Carl and James, that’s all still happening. Abi hasn’t got a scooby that that’s happening. Tyrone doesn’t know about the car. So there are things which are bubbling and ready to kick off.’