Maureen Lipman 'taking Coronation Street break'

Dame Maureen Lipman is taking a break from 'Coronation Street'.

The 76-year-old star - who portrays Evelyn Plummer in the ITV soap - is heading away from Weatherfield for a short time as her one-woman play 'Rose' heads to the West End.

A source told The Sun newspaper's TV Biz column: "Maureen will be taking a short break from the cobbles to star in the play - but she will be back."

In the production, by Martin Sherman, Maureen plays a feisty Jewish woman who goes on a journey from the devastation of Nazi-occupied Europe to conquering the American dream.

Maureen said in a statement: "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."

Last year, Maureen went on a "little holiday" from the cobbles, but admitted in August she was excited to go back.

She said at the time: "I’ve got a little holiday from 'Corrie'. I’m going back, because I like 'Corrie', I like the people."

Maureen also admitted she is a big fan of being up north in the Greater Manchester area, where the ITV soap is filmed.

She added: "It’s amazing being up north again, because you realise how much you’re kind of being posh when you’re in London, even though I’ve been here 54 years."

In July 2022, Maureen admitted she had penned another 'Corrie' contract, and praised the soap for being full of "exceptional actors".

She said: "I won't hear a word against Corrie. It's full of quite exceptional actors working with very little rehearsal and very little direction.

"Evelyn's an appalling old boot. I really love her. They keep trying to give her a soft side, which I enthusiastically resist."