Coronation Street star Dame Maureen Lipman is set to take a short break from the cobbles.

The actress, who has played the part of Tyrone Dobbs’s (Alan Halsall) grandmother Evelyn Plummer in the ITV soap since 2018, 

will depart from the show towards the end of the year to take on a new role.

It was revealed yesterday (Wednesday 3rd July) that the actress will be swapping the cobbles for the stage and starring in Richmond Theatre’s annual pantomime later this year, 

with the news sparking concerns that she would be leaving Corrie for good.

But now it has been revealed that Dame Maureen will reprise her role in the ITV soap following some time away.

“Dame Maureen is taking a sabbatical from Coronation Street towards the end of the year,” a show spokesperson told Digital Spy.

“We look forward to seeing her back on the cobbles in 2025.”

The production will take place between December 7th and January 5th, so it’s likely the actress will be absent from Corrie for a number of months.

Announcing the news yesterday, Richmond Theatre shared on Instagram: “We are so excited to announce that Dame Maureen Lipman will star as Mrs Potty and Pete Firman will play Silly Billy in this year’s spellbinding pantomime Beauty and the Beast!”

It won’t be the first break that Dame Maureen has taken from the show, with the actress departing temporarily last year to appear in her one-woman West End play Rose.

Earlier this year, Dame Maureen spoke about the soap’s increasingly dark storylines, reminiscing about the show’s formative years.

“We’ve come to a point in Corrie now where people are getting murdered in knicker factories,” she told 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.”

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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 recognise it as true.”

Dame Maureen Lipman’s upcoming break from Coronation Street to star in Richmond Theatre’s pantomime has sparked a mix of excitement and concerns among fans. While some worry about her departure from the beloved soap, others are eagerly anticipating her return in 2025.

Lipman’s decision to take on new roles outside of Coronation Street is not a new development. Last year, she temporarily left the show to star in her one-woman West End play, Rose. This time, she will be taking on the role of Mrs. Potty in Beauty and the Beast, showcasing her versatility as an actress.

The actress has also shared her thoughts on the direction of Coronation Street’s storylines, pointing out the shift towards darker themes and social issues. Lipman fondly remembers the show’s earlier years when light-hearted conversations among characters like Martha, Minnie, and Ena were commonplace.

Despite the changes in storytelling, Lipman appreciates the realistic dialogue that reflects current events, from domestic abuse to political figures like Donald Trump. Her observations highlight the evolving nature of soap operas and their ability to resonate with audiences through authentic portrayals of everyday life.

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Source: New York Post