Maureen Lipman has officially been replaced on Celebrity Gogglebox. The acting icon and Coronation Street star appeared on the show alongside friend and This Morning regular Gyles Brandreth during series two in 2020.
She replaced actress Dame Sheila Hancock who had appeared with Gyles during the first series of the spin-off of the Channel 4 favorite, which sees celebrity pals give their views on the latest TV show and breaking news, which is set to return next month following the end of the normal series last week.
However, Dame Maureen, who stars as Evelyn Plummer in ITV's Corrie had already confirmed she had quit the programme with the 75-year-old claiming the show's bosses 'didn’t like her jokes'.
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She told the Radio Times: "I went in imagining that they wanted me for my wit and my brain. Of course, they just want to show you willies and for you to be shocked. Honestly, we were really funny together, but none of that was used."
But it has now been revealed that former politician Gyles, 74, will be joined by actor Dame Joanna Lumley, 76, for the next series of the show - which returns on Friday, June 10.
Speaking about getting the opportunity to appear on the popular Channel 4 series, she told the Mirror : "It is a huge honour and crosses something off my long bucket list."
Gyles, who was previously an MP for the Conservative Party between 1992 and 1997, is said to have been friends with Joanna for more than 50 years. Teasing their partnership for the upcoming series, he said "The last time we watched the box together she fell asleep. I'm hoping that doesn't happen for Gogglebox."
The brand new series of Celebrity Gogglebox will see the return of BBC Radio 2 star Rylan Clark and his mum Linda, radio presenter Nick Grimshaw and his niece Liv Grimshaw and Spandau Ballet's Martin Kemp and his radio host son Roman Kemp.
