ITV Coronation Street legend confirms they’re ‘absent for a while’ as they step back
The legendary Dame Maureen Lipman, famed for portraying the no-nonsense Evelyn Plummer, has spilled on stepping back to take up a recurring gig on the iconic ITV soap.
Maureen, 78, who swept into Corrie land in 2018, shared her grand plan with The Sun: “I’ll be absent for a while, and then coming back. I’m not going to die but then I’ll be in and out of it because I want to have a bit of a life. David and I are thinking of having a bit of a gap year.”
The acclaimed actress hinted at sniffing around for new acting ventures, tossing in: “I’m waiting to see what’s out there once I’m out there. There’s got to be something that Lesley Manville and Brenda Blethyn and Harriet Walters don’t play that I could do.”
Evelyn’s storyline will leave fans cheering as she turns law student and heads to university at 78, but the door is left wide open with the show reportedly plotting her return and she’s set to rock up in a plotline next year, reports Lancs Live.
With Corrie reps keeping shtum for now, viewers can look forward to heartwarming scenes as Roy Cropper unwraps Evelyn’s Yuletide gift, finding a backgammon set which is sure to bring a twinkle to her eyes.
Later, Evelyn arranges her new backgammon board in the pub, only for Steve McDonald to inadvertently drench it with his beer. In response, an irate Evelyn sends Steve a letter declaring she’s taking him to small claims court.
The situation intensifies when Steve shows Alya Nazir the letter from Evelyn, demanding £325 in damages for her spoiled backgammon set, and Alya suggests he should pay the sum.
Following this, Steve hands over the £325 to Evelyn. However, when Evelyn admits that the solicitor’s letter was a sham and she penned it herself, Alya finds it humorous. But how will Steve react to this deceit if he uncovers the truth?
Later in the week, a fascinated Alya invites Evelyn to a criminal law lecture where Evelyn swipes a name badge from the meet and greet table.