Coronation Street legend signs new contract after shock comeback – as major storyline is teased
CORONATION Street legend Sue Devaney has signed a new contract to stay on the ITV soap.
Sue, who plays businesswoman Debbie Webster, returned to the soap after 34 years in 2019 for a brief stint before making a permanent comeback in 2020.
Her return has been one of Corrie’s biggest success stories, with Debbie being exposed as the brains behind a scheme that threatened to ruin the cobbles ahead of the show’s big 60th anniversary.
And now it’s been confirmed that Debbie’s drama will continue as she’s signed a new contract that will keep her in Weatherfield.
“Sue was delighted to sign a new contract earlier this year. She never expected to return to Corrie after 30-odd years away, but it really does feel like home five years later,” a source exclusively revealed to The Sun.
They continued, teasing what’s coming for Debbie: “Bosses have made it clear that Debbie is an essential character on the cobbles and there are big things coming up for her.
“Her hotel set has been given a big money revamp, which shows how central Debbie will be going forward.”
It seems like Debbie and her Chariot Square Hotel will both be a big part of the soap moving forward.
Sue’s happy Corrie news comes after it was confirmed that she’d secretly married her long-time partner, former BBC journalist Jim O’Farrell.
Last week, The Sun exclusively revealed that Sue and Jim tied the knot in a stunning ceremony earlier this year in Skipton after a three-year engagement.
Bride Sue looked stunning in a gorgeous red gown teamed with black detailing.
Friends and family watched as the couple said their vows and exchanged rings in the intimate ceremony.
A source said: “It was a beautiful day. Sue looked a million dollars. It was a lovely ceremony and very low-key, considering Sue’s fame. Everyone is really happy for them.”
Another Corrie star has confirmed their return to the soap
Alongside Sue, another Corrie favourite, Daniel Brocklebank, has also signed onto the soap for another year.
The 44-year-old actor, who plays archdeacon Billy Mayhew on the soap, inked a new 12 month contract which will see his character grieve the loss of Paul Foreman (Peter Ash).
Forgotten soap storylines
The nation's soaps have had many gripping storylines play out over the years. However, some plots proved to be far less memorable. Here are some forgotten stories from Weatherfield, Walford and more...
- Ken and Audrey’s romance (2015): After the death of wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride), Coronation Street original Ken Barlow (William Roache) started to move on in his life. He started to develop a spark with old friend Audrey (Sue Nicholls), with then-Corrie boss saying it would be like “Ross and Rachel”. In the end, nothing ever came of it and the two remained platonic pals.
- Beth’s bigamy (2016): Despite being happily married to Kirk (Andrew Whyment), a troubling secret came to light about Beth Tinker (Lisa George). It transpired that she had never divorced from her first husband, Darryl (Paul Loughran), father of her son Craig (Colson Smith). Although Craig and Kirk were shocked – and Beth was arrested – the storyline didn’t didn’t go much further.
- Kat Slater’s secret son (2017): Capitalising on the popularity of Kat (Jessie Wallace) and Alfie (Shane Richie), the two received a spin-off back in 2017. Titled ‘Redwater’, it saw the two travel to Ireland where they met long-lost son Luke, now called Dermott Dolan, played by Oisín Stack. Despite the high-tension events during Redwater, Kat seems to have put the experience behind her as Dermott’s not been mentioned since.
- Alfie’s brain tumour (2015): Having learned in 2015 that he had a brain tumour, Alfie kept the news from Kat until their trip to Ireland. At the time, actor Shane Ritchie revealed fans would see a change in Alfie as he battled the illness. It would appear that at some point after leaving the Square, was told the tumour was non-malignant. By the time Alfie returned in 2022, fans were left confused over what had happened to the storyline.
- Kathy and Buster’s affair (2016): In 2016, Walford legend Kathy Beale (Gillian Taylforth) fell into the arms of convict Buster Briggs, played by Karl Howman. Buster was the long-time lover of Shirley Carter (Linda Henry) and fathered both her sons – Mick (Danny Dyer) and Dean (Matt Di Angelo). When Buster left, he begged Kathy to join him, but she refused for the sake of her family. Meanwhile Buster didn’t even stop to say goodbye to Shirley before exiting with a broken heart. Fans expected a showdown between the two women, but this never came to pass.
- Jacob’s OCD (2016): After his dad, David (Matthew Wolfenden), was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2016, Jacob (Joe-Warren Plant) developed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). This manifested in the form of cleaning. Jacob’s OCD made a brief return one year on, after David had another scare after finding a lump. Jacob frantically searched the bins for a “lucky coin” that had accidentally been thrown away. Despite stressful situations – such as being groomed by his teacher Maya, losing his fiancee Leanna to a serial killer, dealing with mum Leyla’s drug addiction, and surviving a stabbing – the condition doesn’t appear to have returned.
- Marlon and Charity’s fling (2003): Few fans would likely remember few will remember the one-night stand between Charity (Emma Atkins) and Marlon (Mark Charnock) in 2003. The pair slept together when Charity was staying with Marlon while still under suspicion for husband Chris’s supposed “murder”.
- Alex Browning’s revenge plot (2014): Fans expected a confrontation when Dr Browning’s son Alex (Ojan Genc) mer stepmum Mercedes McQueen (Jennifer Metcalfe). After all, Mercedes, with Cindy Cunningham (Stephanie Waring) and Lindsey Butterfield (Sophie Austin) had murdered Alex’s dad, double-murderer Dr Paul Browning, after he kidnapped and attacked his new wife. In fact, the soap teased Alex would seek revenge for his father’s death upon arriving. However, he instead gave Cindy’s son Hilton (his half-brother) a life-saving transplant, became his godfather, and leaving the village soon after.
Viewers know that the terminally ill Paul, portrayed by Peter Ash, will pass away following a devastating battle with Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Daniel told Inside Soap magazine: “He’s losing the love of his life; it’s going to be difficult for him.
“I don’t know what they have in store for Billy over the next year, I’ve just signed a new contract that takes me until the following November.”