February 21st 2024.
The character of Evelyn in Coronation Street may be a familiar one to those who have been following the show for quite some time. Recently, Maureen Lipman, the actress who plays the nosy and outspoken Evelyn Plummer, has shared her thoughts on the declining viewership of the show and how it can be remedied by returning to its roots.
In the past few years, there has been a significant drop in the number of people watching the show in its traditional airing slot. Instead, many have turned to streaming services like ITX to catch up on the latest episodes. Lipman believes that this decline is due to the sensationalized and shocking storylines that have been introduced in recent years.
Evelyn first made her appearance on the show in 2018, when it was revealed that she was the estranged grandmother of long-serving character Tyrone Dobbs. Some of her recent storylines have included lying about her daughter's death and forcing her to go through drug rehabilitation. Her on-screen family has also expanded with the arrival of her daughter Cassie, and she has formed a close bond with Roy Cropper, played by David Neilson.
While the show continues to tackle important issues such as domestic abuse and terminal illness, Lipman believes that the earlier episodes, which were written by her late husband Jack Rosenthal, had more freedom to explore a variety of topics. She fondly remembers scenes where characters like Martha, Minnie, and Ena would sit down and have a conversation about something as lighthearted as the movie Ben-Hur.
Although Lipman acknowledges the show's responsibility to cover relevant social issues, she also feels that the current trend of sensationalism is not necessary. She mentions how the show has had storylines involving murder in a knicker factory and even a character being placed on the sex offenders' list. However, she admits that she has inherited the show from her husband and will continue to stick around for a bit longer.
Despite taking breaks from the show to pursue other projects, Lipman enjoys being a part of the Coronation Street family. She appreciates the camaraderie among the cast and crew and loves being in the North. It's a job that has its ups and downs, but overall, Lipman is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a beloved show.
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