Actress Maureen Lipman has been drafted into Coronation Street to temporarily replace Julie Goodyear who is suffering from exhaustion.

Lipman, 56, will play Lillian Spencer, the new bar manager brought in by character Fred Elliot to run the Rovers Return pub.

Goodyear returned to the soap as the larger-than-life Bet Gilroy just weeks ago after a seven-year absence.

But the hectic schedule of filming for four episodes a week quickly took its toll on the star, leading to a reported collapse from exhaustion.

Lipman has had a varied career

Scriptwriters have hurriedly been forced to change the plot to give Goodyear, 57, time to recover.

Varied career

Lipman will initially join the soap for eight episodes, making her mark by employing her fictional son and daughter behind the bar much to the dismay of Rovers staff and regulars.

The plot will see Fred Elliot take a shine to his new manger but he will soon realise he has met his match.

Lipman is no stranger to the successful Manchester soap as her husband Jack Rosenthal was one of its first writers when it aired in 1960.

She has alternated her career between film, TV and stage - appearing in the West End revival of the musical Oklahoma!

Her film credits include Up the Junction, Educating Rita and the less-than-successful Carry On Columbus.

But she is probably best remembered from her role as Beattie in the BT adverts of the 80s.