Coronation Street’s Maureen Lipman makes major move away from soap after 20 years

The 79-year-old actress is currently best known for playing Evelyn Plummer in the ITV soap

Coronation Street star Dame Maureen Lipman will tour the UK for the first time in 20 years, as she takes to the stage in Peter Quilter’s new comedy, Allegra. The 79-year-old actress, who is currently best known for playing Evelyn Plummer in the ITV soap will appear in the play’s world premiere in Brighton next year to kick off its tour, ahead of its planned West End run.

The tour opens on May 12, 2026 – the week of the award-winning actress’ 80th birthday. Written by Tony Award-winner Quilter, the play will centre around a woman whose irrepressible optimism means she cannot stop herself from bursting into song.

The titular character, Allegra, creates disruption and chaos in her village with her musical outbursts. Dame Maureen said: “To find a comedy which can turn our current face of gloom into an upturned grin of happiness, is rare.

“Allegra is about a woman who is relentlessly upbeat – in more ways than one.” Ibsen it isn’t,” she added, referencing the serious, socially critical plays of the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen.

It comes after Dame Maureen recently took breaks from her Corrie role to take on other endeavours. But she has vowed to never retire. Speaking on the 20 Questions podcast ahead of her 80th birthday next year, she said: “I will carry on, as much as I’m wanted, I’ll carry on until my brain goes – or my legs.

“You can only take what you’re offered. It’s not been a career where I’ve thought, ‘Shall I take the Bond film? Or shall I do the play The Cherry Orchard?’ I’m more likely to be asked to be in Carry On Columbus. That’s because I’m a bit light entertainment. So a lot of work is not coming my way, am I bitter? No, I’m not, I’ve always worked, I’ve worked though two pregnancies and young children, I’ve worked through good times and sad times.”

It was previously revealed that Dame Maureen will be guest-starring in Father Brown as she featured in a number of preview images released for the upcoming 13th series back in August. The BBC drama follows a Roman Catholic priest – played by Harry Potter star Mark Williams – as he fights crime in the fictional village of Kembleford, located in Gloucestershire.

The next series will see the return of cast members including Tom Chambers as Inspector Sullivan, Claudie Blakley as the new Mrs Isabel Sullivan, Ruby-May Martinwood as Brenda and John Burton as Sergeant Goodfellow. Series 13 will also see the new Mr and Mrs Sullivan settle into married life after the wedding celebrations at the end of series 12.

Elsewhere, Father Brown is tasked by Flambeau to visit excommunicated priest Father Lazarus in prison and Canon Fox plans to enact revenge upon Father Brown. As well as Dame Maureen, the other guest stars of the new series are Absolutely Fabulous’s Julia Sawalha, Quadrophenia actor Phil Daniels and soap star Debra Stephenson.