Maureen’s Rovers return
CORONATION Street is bringing acclaimed actress Maureen Lipman back to the cobbles - as Tyrone’s grandma.
The star will play ‘outspoken battleaxe’ Evelyn Plummer when she returns to Weatherfield, 16 years after her last appearance on the soap.
Veteran viewers will remember her from her stint as Rovers Return relief manager Lillian Spencer, a good friend of butcher Fred Elliot, in 2002.
She was best remembered for her pet Mynah bird, Dinah the Mynah, and famously barred Norris Cole and Rita Sullivan from the boozer on her first day.
Maureen will return as Evelyn after Tyrone Dobbs decides to trace his family history following the recent death of his mum, Jackie.
She will soon be ruling the roost at number 9 – much to his partner Fiz’s dismay and it won’t be long before she’s ruffling a few feathers on the Street.
Coronation Street’s new producer Iain MacLeod said Maureen would add ‘a fresh dollop of northern humour’ to the soap on her return.
He said: “I am beyond thrilled that we are introducing such a great new character, played by someone of Maureen’s pedigree. Evelyn is eye-wateringly withering and will add a fresh dollop of northern humour to the show as she turns Tyrone and Fiz’s lives upside down.”
Maureen’s impressive CV includes film roles in The Pianist, Educating Rita and Oklahoma. She has also appeared in TV series including All at Number 20, The Fugitives and Plebs. She is also remembered for her role as Beatie in the 1980s BT Adverts.
Her theatre credits include more than 25 West End productions including the award-winning Oklahoma with Hugh Jackman, and she is currently appearing in a one woman show, Up For It, at Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She has also written 10 books including her bestknown title, How Was it for You?
She will make her Corrie comeback as Evelyn in September.