‘RONNIE MAKES DEBBIE REALISE SHE’S GONE TOO FAR’
Corrie star Sue Devaney tells us how sheer desperation drives Debbie to make some very bad decisions
Debbie Webster may pride herself on being something of a hotshot businesswoman, but it’s all gone wrong for her since she drafted in her pal Ed Bailey to help fix a broken radiator at the hotel. Not only does Ed end up getting an electric shock but when Debbie tries to withdraw money from the business to pay him compensation, she realises that she’s close to bankruptcy.
Here, Sue, 55, who plays Debbie, explains how her character becomes increasingly desperate, much to the dismay of her new man Ronnie…
Hi, Sue! How stressed is Debbie and how big is the problem?
She doesn’t realise how big it is until she starts looking at the books and it becomes evident that there are huge issues. She found a lot that was wrong with one of the hotels and she thought she would get Ed in to fix it but there was a lot more to it and, of course, it ended badly.
Does she feel particularly bad about Ed, given that he’s a pal?
She tries to do the right thing and wants to make amends, and that’s when she discovers the truth about the business. When she starts to go through the books, she’s shocked at how bad things are.
How are things with Ronnie?
I think she is opening herself up more than she has ever done.
Does she trust him?
She’s learning to trust him. He says, “I’m going to stand by you,” and that blows her away.
How does she feel having to ask Kevin for help?
She’s mortified and embarrassed. She’s built this empire and is a businesswoman who has always been there to help her family, and now it’s all crashing down around her and she’s facing bankruptcy.
Debbie ends up breaking the law to tackle the issue. Were you surprised she’d go that far?
No, I wasn’t. She’s decided criminality is the only way forward.
Does Ronnie know what she’s been up to?
Ronnie knows and he’s not impressed with her. That makes her realise that she’s gone too far.