Maureen Lipman jokingly threatened to ‘personally kill’ I’m A Celeb bosses if they ‘harm one hair’ on Alan Halsall’s head, during Thursday’s Lorraine.
The Coronation Street legend, 78, wasn’t afraid to speak her mind when she was asked what she thought of her on-screen grandson, 42, going Down Under to spend three weeks with critters.
Maureen is best-known for her role as established character Tyrone Dobbs’ (Alan Halsall’s) grandmother in Corrie.
She has appeared in the Manchester-based soap as Evelyn Plummer, mother of addict Cᴀssie Plummer, since 2018.
Alan, who touched down at Brisbane Airport on Sunday, is heading into the jungle alongside the likes of GK Barry and Tulisa.
Maureen Lipman jokingly threatened to ‘personally kill’ I’m A Celeb bosses if they ‘harm one hair’ on Alan Halsall ‘s head, during Thursday’s Lorraine
The Coronation Street legend, 78, wasn’t afraid to speak her mind when she was asked what she thought of her on-screen grandson, 42, going Down Under to spend three weeks with critters
Lorraine asked soap star Maureen: ‘Will you be watching your boy in the jungle? Are you worried about him?’
She let out a sight before raging: ‘I could kill him honestly. He was gonna go last year but he hurt his knee. If they harm one hair on that boy’s head I will personally kill them.
‘If they give him turkey testicles I will personally kill them. He’ll be fine because he’s a lovely human being. He takes a lot from me.’
Praising her co-star, she added: ‘He’s very sorted, his life is very sorted and he’s a really better actor than you’d ever know.
‘He’ll be very guarded at first but if they get underneath they’ll find he’s a lovely bloke.’
Last November, the father-of-one underwent major knee surgery and was told by doctors it could take him up to a year to recover.
The surgery sees the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed by removing the torn ligament and replacing it with a tendon from another area of the leg.
It was reported on Friday the Coronation Street star had to pull out of a padel compeтιтion because of his knee and so speculation grew he would not make it to the jungle.
She let out a sight before raging: ‘I could kill him honestly. He was gonna go last year but he hurt his knee. If they harm one hair on that boy’s head I will personally kill them’
Alan, who touched down at Brisbane Airport on Sunday, is heading into the jungle alongside the likes of GK Barry and Tulisa
Maureen is best-known for her role as established character Tyrone Dobbs’ (Alan Halsall’s) grandmother in Corrie
Read More Maureen Lipman, 78, joins her Coronation Street co-stars at the Inside Soap Awards 
‘Alan was meant to be taking part in a padel compeтιтion but pulled out at the last minute because his knee was playing up,’ a source told The Sun.
‘It’s fine now but he just has to be really careful. He might not be able to take part in some of the trials, bosses are currently working out if he will be ruled out of any.
‘It’s a huge blow for Alan because he was looking forward to throwing himself into it and now has to be a bit wary.’
MailOnline has contacted Alan’s representatives for comment.
Elsewhere in the interview, Maureen opened up about her engagement to her business consultant fiancé David Turner.
She revealed she was the one who popped the question to her partner, also 78, while attempting to make a joke on a train journey.
When asked if the wedding planning is underway, Maureen joked: ‘The very mention of the word venue fills me with fear but yes, we are astounded by the fact that you can have a love affair at this age.
‘We had sort of talked about marriage but in a sort of ha ha way because you know, if you’ve been married, then you don’t need to be married again do you.’
Last November, Alan had major knee surgery and told how it could take him up to a year to fully recover
Elsewhere in the interview, Maureen opened up about her engagement to her business consultant fiancé David Turner
They got engaged on a train coming back from Edinburgh, when David mentioned that it was the minor festival of Tu B’Av – a day when a Jewish woman can ask a man to marry her.
She explained: ‘It was just the gag really, we were on this train with a table between us and I just slid under the table and he said: “What are you doing?” and I said “Go on then! Marry me” and he was just gobsmacked.
‘He said “Yes, yes” and then I couldn’t get out, I sort of folded under the table. Then of course, I wrote about it and the whole thing skyrocketed.’
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 in her Spectator column, 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.’
She revealed she was the one who popped the question to her partner, also 78, while attempting to make a joke on a train journey (pictured on September 5)
When asked if the wedding planning is underway, Maureen joked: ‘The very mention of the word venue fills me with fear’
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 proudly 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.’
The actress was married to TV scriptwriter Jack Rosenthal for 30 years until his death in 2004 (pictured on their wedding day in 1973) and they welcomed daughter Amy, 50, and Adam, 48
Maureen had a 13-year relationship with computer expert Guido Castro, who died in 2021, after his body was ‘weakened’ by Covid (pictured in 2014)
Maureen’s role as Evelyn Plummer has won her two awards: Best Newcomer from the Inside Soap Awards and Best Comedic Performance from The British Soap Awards.
She was made a Dame in 2021 in the belated Queen’s birthday honours list in recognition of a stage and screen career stretching back more than 50 years.
After training at LAMDA, her work was mostly in the theatre and the actress was a member of the RSC and Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre Company in the 70s.
She later came to prominence on television playing an agony aunt whose own personal life was a shambles in the sitcom Agony in the late 70s, and then as Jewish grandmother Beattie in a string of famous BT adverts.
On the big screen she has had supporting roles in Educating Rita with Michael Caine and Julie Walters, and Roman Polanski’s 2002 Oscar winner The Pianist.
