Evelyn Plummer might have left Weatherfield for law school, but it seems she won’t be away for long. After some time off, one beloved Coronation Street star is getting ready to come back, and it’s happening sooner than many thought.
From Uni Halls to Coronation Street
Last year, Dame Maureen Lipman announced she was stepping back from Corrie, and her character Evelyn was written out as she left to study law at university, at the age of 78, no less. ITV called it an “extended break,” and viewers saw Evelyn’s final scenes in January.
Despite this break, Maureen didn’t rule out a return. On Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh, she mentioned she had been signed for another year. She said the work kept her sharp and engaged. “Everything is still completely fascinating to me,” she shared.
Return Confirmed, And It’s Coming Soon
Now, a source has told The Sun that Evelyn is set to come back in just a few weeks. With her storyline taking her to university, the insider said it made sense for her to “pop back in from time to time.” Fans won’t have to wait long.
Maureen already hinted at this in December, telling The Sun she’d be “absent for a while, and then coming back.” She clarified she wasn’t being written out permanently: “I’m not going to die,” she said, adding that she’d be “in and out of it” to make space for life outside the show. She even mentioned that she and her partner David were thinking about taking a “gap year.”
Why She Thinks Corrie Needs to Rebalance
During her break, Maureen also shared her thoughts on the show’s direction. On the Beyond The Title podcast, she suggested Coronation Street had become too focused on ticking social-issue boxes, pointing out how characters were being “murdered in knicker factories” and domestic abuse stories were front and center.
She said she missed the simpler moments like when Martha, Minnie, and Ena could sit in the snug and talk about Ben-Hur. For her, Corrie’s charm has always been in those relatable, everyday exchanges. Evelyn’s comeback might not be full-time, but her return will definitely bring some excitement back to the street. Her sharp one-liners are just what Weatherfield has been missing. Keep following Soap Opera Daily for all the latest Coronation Street news and cast updates.
Maureen, You need to come back to Corrie, It is not the same without you. Love you.