Debbie Buttershaw was the girlfriend of Mark Hughes in 1993. Mark was unaware that Lorraine Nelson also had feelings for Mark so Debbie found herself unknowingly fighting Lorraine for Mark. Mark chose Debbie though and they became a couple. Debbie later developed an addiction to running and did not eat properly. This eventually culminated in her collapsing in The Woolpack one night and being hospitalised. On a night out in The Woolpack after being discharged, Debbie admitted to Mark that her health scare frightened her, and she promised to ease back on the excercise and eat properly.