'Coronation Street' have offered Dame Maureen Lipman security guards to protect her from anti-Semitic attacks.
Dame Maureen Lipman offered extra security by Coronation Street
The 77-year-old actress, who is Jewish, was "really surprised" when she was given the option of additional security, amid the conflict in the Middle East, which erupted into violence on October 7th when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, killing 1,400 people and taking more than 200 hostages.
According to The Sun newspaper, she said at the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism: "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."
It comes after an increase in attacks on British Jews since Hamas stormed into Israel.
A source at the channel told the publication: "The wellbeing 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 entire 'Coronation Street' family."
Along with more than 13,000 others, Maureen has signed the October Declaration, an open letter condemning antisemitism and expressing support for British Jews.
Part of the letter reads: "We share the shock and distress of Israelis, British Jews and compassionate people around the world at the unfolding horror and its consequences.
"We call for all the hostages taken on 7 October to be released immediately. It is an essential step on the path to peace and the cessation of hostilities."
'Countdown' star Rachel Riley and playwright Sir Tom Stoppard are among the other stars who have signed the open letter.
What's more, 'Friday Night Dinner' actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, 57, who is Jewish, recently spoke of having extra security during her touring production of Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'.
She wrote: "For the last week, the production has had to have security men around keeping an eye on things. It’s like a dystopian nightmare.
"A Jewish actress putting on a play about anti-Semitism which needs to be made secure because of Jew-hating extremists.
"As one reviewer said, ‘Written in 1600, set in 1936, as relevant today in 2023.’ Ain’t that the truth."
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