Coronation Street Star Maureen Lipman, 79, Marries Partner in Joyful Ceremony Interrupted by Emergency Alert
A New Chapter for the Corrie Legend
Acting legend Dame Maureen Lipman, best known as Evelyn Plummer on Coronation Street, has tied the knot with her partner David Turner. The 79-year-old actress, who joined the ITV soap in 2018 as Tyrone Dobbs’ (Alan Halsall) sharp-tongued grandmother, decided earlier this year to scale back her screen time.
The reason was simple — she wanted to focus on her blossoming romance with businessman David. And in true Maureen style, their story has been anything but ordinary.
A Proposal Like No Other
Maureen revealed that she was actually the one who popped the question. Speaking with Lorraine Kelly, she explained the moment unfolded on a train journey from Edinburgh.
“He was telling me about Tu B’Av, which is a Jewish day when women can propose to men,” she said. “So, as a bit of a gag, I slipped under the table and asked him to marry me. He said yes — though I was stuck down there for a bit!”
The pair’s engagement was met with joy from family and friends, and earlier this month, they made it official in a heartfelt ceremony.
A Hilarious Wedding Day Twist
Their big day, however, wasn’t without drama. On September 7, just as Maureen and David were exchanging vows, an emergency alert system test sent alarms blaring across millions of phones nationwide.
Former Celebrity Gogglebox star Gyles Brandreth, a close friend of Maureen, shared the moment on This Morning. “The rabbi joked he had written to the Prime Minister about the wedding,” he explained. “And the Prime Minister replied, ‘I can’t be there, but I’ll arrange sirens all over the country.’”
The lighthearted spin turned an unexpected interruption into one of the most memorable moments of the day.
From Heartbreak to Happiness
Maureen’s wedding is especially poignant given her personal history. Her first husband, Jack Rosenthal, one of Coronation Street’s most celebrated writers, passed away in 2004. She later spent 13 years with Guido Castro until his death in 2021.
Now, with David by her side, Maureen looks every inch the picture of happiness, proving it’s never too late to find love again.
Evelyn Plummer Returns to Weatherfield
Coinciding with her wedding week, Maureen also returned to the cobbles as Evelyn Plummer. Fans last saw Evelyn in March after her daughter Cassie’s scandal involving Ken Barlow.
In her comeback scenes, Evelyn reconnected with Roy Cropper (David Neilson) and even interrupted Carla Connor and Lisa Swain’s engagement meal. But the drama quickly escalated when Tyrone was hit by a stolen car driven by Dylan Wilson (Liam McCheyne) and Brody Michaelis (Ryan Mulvey).
Tyrone has since undergone surgery, leaving his future uncertain.
A Double Celebration for Soap Fans
For Coronation Street viewers, it’s been a week of both celebration and high drama. Off-screen, Maureen has found joy in a new marriage. On-screen, her iconic character is once again in the thick of Weatherfield’s chaos.
It’s a reminder that whether in real life or on the cobbles, Dame Maureen Lipman knows how to keep us talking.