Maureen Lipman to leave Coronation Street – but it’s not all bad news

Coronation Street fans will soon bid farewell to Evelyn Plummer as the iconic Dame Maureen Lipman prepares to leave the cobbles for a new stage role. The 78-year-old actress, who has portrayed Tyrone Dobbs’ (Alan Halsall) formidable grandmother since 2018, is set to star in Richmond Theatre’s annual pantomime later this year.

Lipman’s portrayal of Evelyn has seen her navigate various dramatic twists—from reconnecting with her estranged grandson to forming an unexpected friendship with Roy Cropper (David Neilson). Recently, she also reunited with her long-lost daughter, Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney), aiding her battle with substance abuse.

Despite her departure from Weatherfield, fans need not despair. Lipman is taking a sabbatical rather than a permanent exit. She will be performing in “Beauty and the Beast” at Richmond Theatre from December 7th to January 5th, but will return to Coronation Street in 2025.

A spokesperson confirmed, “Dame Maureen is taking a sabbatical from Coronation Street towards the end of the year. We look forward to seeing her back on the cobbles in 2025.”

This isn’t the first time Lipman has taken a break from the show; she previously stepped away to appear in “Rose” in London’s West End, with Evelyn’s absence explained by sending Cassie off to rehab.

Earlier this year, Lipman voiced her concerns about the darker storylines in Coronation Street, reminiscing about the show’s earlier, lighter days when scripts were written by her late husband, renowned screenwriter Jack Rosenthal. “We’ve come to a point in Corrie now where people are getting murdered in knicker factories,” she remarked on the Beyond the Title podcast. “We’re having domestic abuse. Anything that ticks the box of social problems in the 21st century is going to be in your local soap.”

She continued: “Whereas back then you had the freedom to put Martha [Longhurst], Minnie [Caldwell], and Ena [Sharples] in the snug and have a conversation about Ben-Hur. It’s never been political but I always like it when the women sit down and go, ‘Ooh, Donald Trump, ain’t his hair shocking.’ People talk like that, and we recognize it as true.”