Dame Maureen Lipman has quickly established herself as one of Coronation Street's most iconic figures.
The 76-year-old soap star first appeared on the show as Evelyn Plummer in 2018 and soon become a fan favourite. It has been a difficult week on the Cobbles for Tyrone Dobbs' nan as she had to say goodbye to her dog, Cerberus.
Evelyn took her beloved pet to the vet this week and was devastated to discover he had been diagnosed with kidney failure. Corrie fans were left in tears as the vet recommended Cerberus be put down.
READ MORE: Bargain Hunt item bought for £8 gets bids 'in the hundreds'
Dame Maureen has opened up on how she has blocked out memories of filming her onscreen pet's final scenes. She told Metro: "It is really sad. He was so brave to the last, he just lay there, we were all on the floor with this beautiful soul. Obviously the dog is actually fine but I really miss him."
The soap star emotionally recalled how filming the scenes brought back painful memories of losing her own dog. She said: "I had to say goodbye to my real dog on Zoom, so it wasn’t much of a stretch to imagine this." She added: "My dog was 16 and it was shocking, they are like a member of the family."
The heartbreaking scenes will have repercussions in Weatherfield as it has threatened Evelyn's friendship with Roy Cropper. The two characters were growing to become good friends but Evelyn blamed Roy for allowing her dog to eat a stray piece of Eccles Cake he left on the floor of the cafe.
Evelyn looks set to continue to be a major part of the show as she signed an extension on her contract last year. She launched a fierce defence of the programme when she extended the deal.
She told Reader's Digest: "I won’t hear a word against it. It’s full of quite exceptional actors working with very little rehearsal, very little direction.
‘Am I envious of some of my peers? Sometimes, yes. Do I have the right to be? Of course not. Would I like to be in Sex Education? Yes, of course. Am I sorry I’ve signed up with Corrie for another year? No, I’m not."
However, she is expected to take a temporary break from the show in the near future as she is set to play the lead role in Rose when it arrives in the West End for a month from May.
Away from the screen, Maureen was married to writer Jack Rosenthal from 1974 until he died in 2004. Jack was renowned for his work on Corrie and she said Evelyn is the sort of character her late husband would have created.
She said: "She’s a proper battleaxe, and she’s not really redeemed." Evelyn found love again with Guido Castro who she started dating in 2008.
However, Dame Maureen was heartbroken when Guido died after contracting coronavirus in care home while suffering from Parkinson's in 2021. The soap star said she feels grateful "to have had two such wonderful men" and revealed she took to art therapy to help cope with the grief.
She told Mirror Online: "My experience is just one of thousands of feeling bewildered and out on a limb. The residual pain, the grief, I let it drip out inclemently. Sometimes I can’t sleep."
Receive newsletters with the biggest and breaking TV and showbiz news by signing up here
For more celeb news, videos and pictures follow our designated Facebook page HERE
New Look's 'incredible' £36 dress that's 'perfect for a spring wedding'
Mango shoppers desperate to buy 'stunning' midi dress they 'need'
Martin Lewis warns all workers to check payslips immediately
Doctor 'bowed her head' as she read baby's test results to parents
