Veteran actress Dame Mauren Lipman has revealed how she “couldn’t go on” as she speaks out about her decision to leave Coronation Street after filming her final scenes

Coronation Street favourite Mauren Lipman says she is ‘exhausted’ as she prepares to call time on the Cobbles.

The veteran actress – battle axe Evelyn Plummer on the ITV soap – has a new job after five years as the cantankerous corner shop worker.

The 76-year-old Dame made her first appearance on the soap in September 2018 as the grandmother of Tyrone Dobbs and has been a huge hit with viewers ever since.

But she’s leaving for a while after bosses agreed to a break so she can reprise the role of Rose in Martin Sherman’s one-woman West End play.

She has already filmed her final scenes as Evelyn and will bow out in the coming weeks.

Dame Mauren Lipman is swapping the screen for the stage ( Image:Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
The good news is that Mauren signed a new contract so will return to Corrie – but not before she’s taken to the stage.

“They’ve really put me through it the last few weeks,” she said on Loose Women.

“I’ve had seven scenes to learn a day. The last shot last night I literally lay on the floor and said, ‘I can’t go on’.”

Corrie has left her totally floored! ( Image:ITV)

She spoke about her departure on Loose Women ( Image:Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
She explained: “That is me at the end of yesterday, and now I’m here sparkling.”

Talking about returning as Rose, Maureen said: “I am delighted to be putting Rose back on her bench for a limited run at the Ambassadors in May.

“I thought I could never have the power to revisit Martin Sherman’s mystical, magical deeply philosophical and wildly funny creation, but Rose is in my blood and she has to be revived.”

She’s been on the ITV soap for five years ( Image:ITV)

Playwright Martin Sherman said of the star: ” Maureen Lipman ’s performance as Rose is the greatest gift a playwright could ever dream of.

“Performance is perhaps the wrong word; she totally inhabits the role, the woman, the space, the language, the times, the events.

“I’m so happy that her astonishing alchemy has the opportunity to be witnessed again.”
Maureen Lipman, the talented actress known for her role as Evelyn Plummer on Coronation Street, is taking a break from the cobbles to return to the stage. After five years on the popular ITV soap, the 76-year-old Dame has decided to explore new opportunities and challenge herself with a one-woman West End play.

In a recent interview on Loose Women, Lipman shared the challenges she faced during her final days of filming on Coronation Street. With seven scenes to learn each day, the exhaustion was clearly taking its toll. She even admitted to feeling completely drained, stating, “I can’t go on.”

Despite the physical and mental strain, Lipman is excited to revisit the character of Rose in Martin Sherman’s play. The opportunity to embody such a complex and intriguing character is something she couldn’t pass up. Sherman himself praised Lipman’s performance, describing it as a gift to playwrights everywhere.
As Lipman prepares to take to the stage once again, fans of Coronation Street can rest assured that she will eventually be returning to reprise her role as Evelyn. The actress has signed a new contract with the show, ensuring that viewers will have the chance to see her cantankerous character back in action.

In the meantime, Lipman’s departure from Coronation Street has left fans eagerly anticipating her return. Her dedication to her craft and her ability to inhabit a character so fully is truly a testament to her talent as an actress. We look forward to seeing her shine on the stage and back on our screens in the future.