Coronation Street star lets slip end date for Debbie's emotional story

Coronation Street star Jonathan Howard appears to have let slip when on-screen mother Debbie Webster will be departing the soap. The character has been suffering from dementia, which was diagnosed last year, with fans aware that it will eventually lead to her exit.

Now speaking to The Sun, Jonathan – who plays Carl – shared that Debbie's (played by Sue Devaney) final scenes will likely play out in August next year.

Related: Best streaming services

"Sue is contracted to August, but already they are ramping up the dementia storyline," he shared. "It’s going to be very sad, so sad, I love Sue so much. I’m so happy she gets to play my mum and I get to play her son."

Jonathan admitted it is "going to be really emotional" for him, as his co-star has "always held my hand and been there for me"

"Yesterday, I had lunch with her, Michael Le Vell [Kevin Webster] and Sally Carman who plays Abi, it’s a nice little family we’ve created," he continued. "So knowing that at some point, it’s still a year down the line, it’s going to come to an end, it’s so sad."

The actor further revealed that they have been given scripts for this Christmas, which looks likely to be Debbie's final one.

Related: Exclusive: Coronation Street lines up a big new feud for Daniel Osbourne

"We’ve just got the latest scripts for the Christmas storyline," he said. "Carl is turning 40 just before Christmas and I think everyone is aware that it’s potentially Debbie’s last Christmas.

"You don’t know how long with dementia someone’s going to survive, but there is a feeling this is the last Christmas that she is herself."

Earlier this year, Sue opened up about her upcoming departure, saying she was planning to "make the most" of the time she has left on Corrie.

"I think when an actor gets to a certain age they think, 'This is quite nice. I can go home every night, I can have my tea, I’m not living out of a suitcase'," she told BANG Showbiz. "And it’s nice to have a regular wage, because as an actor you never know what’s next.

"So as you get older you think, 'This is quite nice.' But if it’s not to be, it’s not to be. It’s only in soap where you think, 'I’ve got a job for a while.' But we never know when it’s going to come to an end, or the character is going to be killed off, so you just have to make the most of it."

Coronation Street airs on weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.

Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage

Visit our Streaming Guide now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.

The new edition of Legends, a 100-page celebration of Dolly Parton's life, is here. Buy Dolly in newsagents or online.