Maureen Lipman had a spring in her step as she attended the Inside Soap Awards on Monday evening – and with good reason.

The Coronation Street actress was making her first public appearance since confirming her engagement to business consultant boyfriend David Turner.

And what an appearance it was, with the veteran star winning Comic Performance for the fourth year running thanks to her role as Evelyn Plummer.

Lipman, 78, had unconventionally opted to propose while attempting to tell a joke during a recent train journey with Turner, also 78.

But she was back at work, at least in a manner of speaking, as the annual Inside Soap Awards got underway at London’s Salsa Temple, where she was joined by her Coronation Street co-stars.

Lipman, who has starred on the soap since 2018, opted for a collared shirt dress for her night out at the venue, a vibrant cocktail bar on Victoria Embankment.

She completed the look with a pair of flats, while her bobbed hair was styled with a simple side-parting.

Discussing her recent engagement with Spectator, she wrote: ‘Later that night my partner David and I decided to tell our children that, with a combined age of 156, we are going to get married.

‘In truth I had been rather against the “M” word, but on a train coming back from Edinburgh he mentioned that it was the minor festival of Tu B’Av – a day when a Jewish woman can ask a man to marry her.

‘Unable to resist the gag, I slid under the table separating us onto one knee and asked him for his hand. To my surprise and slight panic, he gave it.’

The actress was married to TV scriptwriter Jack Rosenthal for 30 years until his death in 2004 and they welcomed daughter Amy, 50, and Adam, 48. David also has three children from a previous relationship.

Writing about how the children took the news, she shared: ‘All reactions were warm, and all were individual.

‘One child said that he needed time “to process it”. We broke the news to another as he slid leaves into a new dining table, transforming the scene into a Jack Rosenthal play – one with, I like to think, a happy ending.’

Maureen first mentioned David in autumn 2023, when she shared that she was bringing a ‘gentleman friend’ to that year’s National Television Awards.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Express she said: ‘I’m going with my gentleman friend David.’

Discussing finding love again at 77, the star was overjoyed to be sharing life with a partner.

She said: ‘It’s a gift for all concerned. It’s a gift and he’s been very nice. I’ve met some nice men in my life, some really interesting men, and we will see where it goes.’

They made their public appearance debut at the Oldie Of The Year Awards that November.

At the event, Maureen said of David: ‘That’s my significant other.’

After the death of her husband, Maureen dated Italian businessman Guido Castro for 13 years before his death in 2021.

Speaking about her partner’s death, Maureen confirmed: ‘He got COVID – it wasn’t COVID that killed him but it weakened him terribly.

‘We don’t know how he got it or when or if he had it when he got the vaccine.’

Maureen heartbreakingly added: ‘I said to Guido, ”It’s time to go. You’ve got to let go”. And I think for once in his life he actually did what I told him.’

Maureen is now best-known for her role as established character Tyrone Dobbs’ grandmother.

She has appeared in the Manchester-based soap as Evelyn Plummer, mother of addict Cassie Plummer, since 2018.

The role has won her two awards: Best Newcomer from the Inside Soap Awards and Best Comedic Performance from The British Soap Awards.