Coronation Street’s Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) is a diamond of a woman. We’ve known it for a very long time and that’s why we love her. Her character brings wit, fun and warmth as she epitomises the kind of strong, independent woman that Corrie has always been synonymous with.

With Kevin (Michael Le Vell) and Abi (Sally Carman) currently in crisis, Debbie has really stepped up recently.

She’s supporting her brother as he faces testicular cancer, while being a strong shoulder supporting Abi as she goes through a mental health crisis brought on by witnessing the death of Mason Radcliffe (Luca Toolan).

In Tuesday (February 18)’s episode, Kevin underwent surgery for his cancer. Debbie, Abi and Jack (Kyran Bowes) waited at the hospital, with Abi becoming more and more unsettled.

Not surprisingly, just being there was triggering for her PTSD as it was the place where Mason had been brought to and where he died.

Kindly, Debbie insisted that Abi should go home to spend time with Alfie and she would contact her when Kevin was out of surgery. Abi went outside – but very soon she had the most massive flashback where she thought she saw her son, Seb (Harry Visinoni), lying dead on a stretcher.

She collapsed and was spotted by Asha Alahan (Tanisha Gorey), who took care of her and contacted Debbie.

Debbie was immensely calm and reassuring as she took care of Abi, telling her that Kevin was out of surgery and was fine. Asha wondered if Abi should be assessed by the mental health crisis team at the hospital, but Debbie said that Abi was already on the waiting list for treatment.

Then she reached a decision. She told Abi that she wouldn’t have to wait because she would pay for private therapy that could start much sooner than the NHS therapy.

Kevin was hugely grateful when he heard, but insisted that he should be the one who paid. Debbie wouldn’t hear of it, knowing that Kevin won’t be able to work until he’s fully recovered and money will be tight.

The biggest tragedy in all this is that we know that Debbie will be leaving the soap as she is set to be killed off in a heartbreaking storyline.

It was revealed last year that Debbie will be diagnosed with early onset dementia, and this storyline will ultimately lead to her death.

While this is a worthwhile issue to explore and there’s no doubt that Sue Devaney will play it perfectly, fans have been deeply upset that Debbie – a character who has been underused for a long time – is finally being brought into the centre of the action only to be killed off.

Feelings are so strong on this that there’s even been a petition set up, which at the time of writing has gathered almost 1,500 signatures.

‘Debbie is not just a character, she represents the warmth, humour and resilience that Coronation Street has been celebrated for since its inception,’ the petition’s creator points out.

‘Losing her in such a devastating way sends a clear message that the show has abandoned its roots in favour of shock value and relentless bleakness.’