Shocking picture that shows Coronation Street Maureen Lipman needs bodyguard because she is Jewish
VETERAN Coronation Street star Maureen Lipman is shadowed by a burly security guard while filming on location — to protect her from any possible anti-Semitic attacks.
Dame Maureen, 77, who is Jewish, had her every move watched by the minder in Manchester to ensure her safety as tensions soar in the UK and abroad over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
It comes after we told how the show’s bosses provided the beloved actress with security as anti-Semitic attacks rise — and follows her criticism of other artists who have spoken out against Israel but not the terrorists of Hamas.
Maureen, who plays feisty Evelyn Plummer on Corrie, was stunned to be offered a minder but said at the time: “This is where we are now.”
The Sun’s exclusive pictures show shades-wearing Maureen at work in Manchester on Wednesday.
She was away from the soap’s Weatherfield set in MediaCity, Salford, for scenes in which Evelyn turns sleuth to spy on a man accused of mistreating animals.
Maureen, who wore a long green coat and floppy dark blue leather hat and matching handbag, was accompanied at all times by her guard.
A source said: “He was never more than a yard or two away from her.
“He didn’t let her out of his sight, and he only actually stepped away from her just as the cameras started rolling for filming.
“It’s not unusual to see security guards on location, but it is extremely rare to see them so closely with one person at all times.
“He is from a professional and well-respected firm who know what they are doing.
“And it is a sign of how seriously Corrie are taking the threat and sticking to their duty of care towards Maureen.”
Maureen — who famously starred as the proud granny in the late 1980s BT “he’s got an ‘ology’” adverts — was smiling and chatting with her henchman, as our pictures show.
The source added: “Maureen seemed quite happy and didn’t look downcast or fazed by the situation.
“She was chatting and even joking with her bouncer and other members of the Corrie entourage.
“But he tailed her everywhere and even accompanied Maureen to a caravan that was set up on set for cast and crew to get coffees.”
ITV stepped in to enforce its duty of care protocol after Maureen hit out at “bleeding heartless liberals” who condemned Israel’s response to the horrific October 7 attacks inside its borders without mentioning Hamas.
She spoke out after a group calling itself Artists for Palestine UK published a letter signed by actors including Steve Coogan, Maxine Peake and Miriam Margolyes.
In response, she said: “When babies were garrotted, women dragged by their hair and a family had eyeballs gouged out and fingers chopped off in front of their children — do they really think that Israeli blockades on the border with Gaza justification for such acts of violence?
“Those bigoted signaturists, do they have no soul as well as no judgment?
“Those bleeding heartless liberals who care so deeply for the Palestinians?
“That they espouse their cause at the expense of every other oppressed people of the world . . . shame, shame, shame on every one of you.”
Maureen, who made the comments at an event for academics, said later: “I had a real surprise this week when I was offered security guards by the people at Coronation Street — this is where we are now.”
Another Jewish actress, Tracy-Ann Oberman, 57, has been given security for her touring version of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.
She said: “A Jewish actress putting on a play about anti-Semitism which needs to be made secure because of Jew-hating extremists. It’s like a dystopian nightmare.”
Maureen, who has played battle-axe Evelyn since 2018, is among 70,000 signatories to The October Declaration” condemning the Hamas attacks and surge in anti-Semitism.
Others include Rachel Riley, Vanessa Feltz and Sir Tom Stoppard.
The Community Security Trust, which analyses anti-Semitic incidents in the UK, recorded a record 805 in 21 days after October 7.
It said the figure topped the 803 reported in the first six months in this year.
Meanwhile, an ITV source said: “The well-being of all our cast and crew is of utmost importance.
“Everyone should feel safe to come to work and Maureen has the full support of the ITV family.”