They walked for dementia. They walked for Debbie. And then… she spoke. One surprise video changed everything.

It started with a podcast.
It ended with tears — of joy, of connection, and of something no fan expected.

Coronation Street fans have always been passionate. But this month, they turned that passion into something powerful. The team behind “Conversation Street,” a fan-run podcast, launched the very first “Soap Week” — a fan celebration that quickly exploded into something far bigger.

Over 5.6 million views. Tens of thousands of interactions. Soap stars like Georgia Taylor, Sally Carman-Duttine, and Claire Sweeney joined in. But the moment that stole the spotlight? A walk for Debbie Webster… and a surprise no one saw coming.

Inspired by Sue Devaney’s heartbreaking dementia storyline as Debbie, a group of fans decided to do more than just talk. They walked — from Coronation Street’s original Quay Street set all the way to its modern home at MediaCity.

Seventeen walkers. £1,559.59 raised. All for Dementia UK.

But just before they set off, something happened that left the group stunned and emotional.

Sue Devaney herself — the woman behind Debbie — sent a personal video message to cheer them on.
“Good luck everyone who is on the walk for the Webster’s for Soap Week. I’ll be thinking of you all and thank you so much for raising so much money for Dementia UK. Put your factor 50 on, it’s going to be a scorcher! Good Luck!”

For those who had followed Debbie’s heartbreaking journey, it wasn’t just a celebrity shoutout. It was a moment of connection. Of feeling seen. Of knowing their tribute meant something — to the very woman whose performance inspired it.

But the surprises didn’t end there.

At the finish line, the group was greeted by Toyah Battersby herself — actress Georgia Taylor — creating a full-circle moment that had many fans openly crying. Guided by Corriepedia through iconic Corrie filming locations, the walk turned into a pilgrimage. A love letter to soap history. And a declaration that soap fans are more than just watchers — they are a family.

Gemma, co-creator of Soap Week, said it best: “I always wondered why soaps didn’t have their own celebration… so I made one. But I never imagined this. The love, the stories, the power these shows have — it’s real.”

Next year’s Soap Week is already confirmed, and the bar has been set sky-high.

But what lingers is the feeling this year left behind:
That one storyline, one character, one actress, and one surprise video…
can change everything.