A STREET OF STARS
As Maureen Lipman joins Coronation Street, Marion McMullen checks out some of the famous faces who have appeared in the soap favourite
MAUREEN Lipman, left, is joining longrunning ITV soap Coronation Street next month to play outspoken battleaxe Evelyn Plummer – the grandmother of Tyrone Dobbs. However, it is not the first time the 72-year-old actress has popped up in Weatherfield. She was last seen in 2002 playing snooty landlady Lillian Spencer.
THEATRICAL knight Sir Ian McKellen, right, has appeared in movie blockbusters like The Lord Of The Rings and the X-Men films, but said appearing in Coronation Street more than 10 years ago fulfilled his one remaining ambition. He played flamboyant novelist Mel Hutchwright who was the author of a steamy bodice ripper novel called Hard Grinding.
COMEDY star Sir Norman Wisdom, below, was 89 when he signed up to play sprightly pensioner Ernie Crabbe in 2004. Ernie turned out to be a fitness fanatic and showed up at the Duckworths to buy Jack’s exercise bike.
PHOENIX Nights funnyman Peter Kay also appeared on Coronation Street in 2004 to play luckless drayman and Shelley’s date Eric Gartside, but had previously appeared in 1997 as a shopfitter brought in to refurbish the Corner Shop when its opening was sabotaged in 1997. Peter said he had “always been a huge fan” and had “been brought up with it all my life”.
COMIC Vic Reeves is also an avid Corrie viewer and filmed a three month stint as TV presenter Colin last summer. Vic, whose real name is Jim Moir, said appearing in the soap made his life “complete”. He said: “I’ve been a lifelong fan of Corrie. In fact, I think I saw the very first one.”
HONOR Blackman, below, was 77 years old when she played flirty pensioner Rula Romanoff for five episodes in 2004. The former Avenger and Bond girl caught the eye of Norris Cole and he became smitten, but the relationship was doomed when Rita recognised Rula as an old foe from her nightclub singing days.
BEFORE Absolutely Fabulous and The New Avengers, Joanna Lumley, below, appeared in eight episodes in 1973 playing Ken Barlow’s glamorous girlfriend Elaine Perkins. They shared an interest in politics and went on several dates, but when Ken started to get serious about their relationship she promptly called it a day and left Weatherfield forever.
8 MANY Coronation Street actors have gone on to find international fame. Sir Ben Kingsley played Ron Jenkins in 1966 and Sir Patrick Stewart popped up as a fireman the following year. Prunella Scales and Michael Crawford have also appeared and former Spice Girl Mel B was seen in Bettabuy supermarket in 1993.
9 ROCK group Status Quo, below, turned up to play at Les Battersby’s wedding in 2005 and also found time to enjoy a pint at the Rover’s. Slade singer Noddy Holder made an appearance in the 2000 live episode and Davey Jones played Colin Lomax in 1961 before finding fame as one of The Monkees.
10 ACTING giant Sir Laurence Olivier is said to have asked for a role in Coronation Street, but could not film the part penned for him because he became unwell. And Oscar-winner Sir Anthony Hopkins once hinted he would be happy to join the cast saying: “It’s an institution. Please may I have a part in it?”