Maureen Lipman has addressed her forthcoming exit from Coronation Street, ahead of her on-screen departure in the coming weeks.

It was confirmed earlier this year that she will take a break from her role as Evelyn Plummer in the ITV soap to take part in a pantomime.

The actress has insisted the character will not be killed off, with bosses leaving the door open for her return.

Speaking to Digital Spy, Maureen said: ‘Well the idea is that I don’t get killed off, battered or thrown into Manchester Ship Canal.

‘But I just step back – something happens to me and I go off, but always with the option that I can come back.

‘Because you don’t want to lose… I don’t want to lose Evelyn!’

Maureen said she still ‘loves’ working on the show, but added: ‘Sometimes the scripts are wonderful and sometimes they’re fine but Evelyn always comes out with the right quip at the right time.’

Following the announcement of her temporary departure earlier this year, Maureen later claimed to have signed a contract to ‘do another year’ on the cobbles. 

Speaking to Alan Titchmarsh on his Love Your Weekend show in August, she said: ‘I have been signed up to do another year, yes,’ she said. ‘It’s good for you, it keeps you on your metal, my goodness me.’

A Coronation Street spokesperson previously confirmed to Metro: ‘Dame Maureen is taking a sabbatical from Coronation Street towards the end of the year.

‘We look forward to seeing her back on the cobbles in 2025.’

Mauren, who previously played Rovers Return relief manager Lilian Spencer, joined the Corrie cast as Evelyn in 2018.

Fans saw the character reconnect with her estranged grandson and later joined him at his family home at No. 9, before she was reunited with long-lost daughter Cassie Plummer (Claire Sweeney).

Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.