Maureen Lipman. The new Annie Walker!
Maureen Lipman talks about why joining Corrie feels like coming home – and why the iconic soap will always need wicked matriarchs at its heart…
Maureen Lipman, 73, who plays Tyrone Dobbs’ battleaxe grandmother – Evelyn Plummer – in
Coronation Street, must feel very comfortable on the cobbles, given she spent so much time there decades ago. Her late husband, renowned playwright Jack Rosenthal, wrote many of the episodes in the 60s and 70s. Evelyn proves that, in the world of soap, you don’t even have to be likeable to be loved! Corrie has a rich history of ‘judgemental old bats’ – think Ena Sharples, Annie Walker and Blanche Hunt – and Evelyn carries on the tradition, much to Maureen’s delight.
Maureen, we’re loving you as Evelyn! She’s a horrendous person, but funny at the same time. Does she make you laugh?
It’s her only saving grace! She’s so in-your-face and shocking, isn’t she? I think the Hyacinth Buckets of this world will always be welcome on TV – saying the things people want to say but aren’t brave enough to. People come up to me and say, “Ooh, we love you in Corrie. You’re horrible.” And I take that as a compliment.
So, would Evelyn be a friend of yours in real life?
Obviously, I live with someone not dissimilar inside me – I can be quite challenging myself! Sometimes you have to work hard to find what you need to bring to a character. With Evelyn, I don’t have to work quite so hard! She’s a tough nut, but the writers keep trying to give her a soft side. I’m happy to explore that, as long as it doesn’t get too soft.
Is there anyone on the Street she could be friends with?
There’s this funny sort of thing going on with Roy, isn’t there? Kind of bullying, cajoling him into life… I mean, God help him if it ever goes any further! Poor Roy.
Could Evelyn be interested in romance, do you think?
Well, she’s never going to be found in bed with anyone, is she? I can’t see it myself. But, as in real life, you just never know what’s next. If some handsome young man came along and wanted a cougar, I’m sure Evelyn would cast off her hair grips!
What would you like to see next for her?
I’d like Corrie to follow through on her backstory. Maybe discover more about her exhusband? We could find out if that daughter who went to South Africa is really dead… Evelyn is so buttoned-up, there must be some reason for that. She’s brought down the shutter. It would be interesting to see who or what made that happen.
You’ve had an enviable career. Has Corrie brought you new, younger fans?
It’s nice to be back on TV and in the public eye. I enjoy filming. I like company, and I like working with a cast of all ages. And the Street is also a bit like coming home. My late husband, Jack, wrote over 100 episodes in the [early days]. He had to prise Pat Phoenix out of her dressing room when she was too nervous to film Elsie Tanner’s second wedding. All of that is part of my own heritage. So, when they asked if I was interested in playing Evelyn, I said, “Of course I am!” It’s always been quite matriarchal – you need difficult women at the heart of it.
We hear that when you stay in Manchester for filming, you’re flatmates with Rula Lenska, who plays Claudia Colby…
Yes, I’ve been living in basically the same flat as Rula, but I haven’t brought anything with me except a few clothes, make-up, some pills and a rug. Meanwhile, Rula has all these
green drapes, lamps with little candle bulbs, there’s a chicken in the oven… And then I knock on the door with a bottle of vodka and some garage flowers and say, “Hi darling, I’m home!” We’ve known each other for years and we’re quite the odd couple – but we have a laugh.
Perhaps you two could come together on screen…
Well, I was hoping they’d get Claudia to somehow force Evelyn into a makeover – with hair dye, decent clothes, proper shoes… Evelyn is stuck in a time warp, isn’t she? It’d be fun to see her change. Of course, she’d go straight back to how she was. “That’s enough of that nonsense, thank you!”
Coronation Street l continues on ITV, weeknights, from 7.30pm