Maureen Lipman, 79, opens up on ‘rare and precious’ newlywed life with husband David Turner as she says: ‘I wish any person on their own at my age could find this level of happiness’

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Maureen Lipman and her husband, David Turner, recently shared how they found love with each other later in life. The couple got married six months ago.

The 79-year-old actress from Coronation Street married her 80-year-old businessman partner in a small, private ceremony at his son’s home in London back in September.

They first connected in 2023, and a year later, the actress surprised him with a marriage proposal. This happened two decades after she lost her first husband and three years after he was widowed.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always thrilled to hear heartwarming stories, and Maureen’s is truly special! She recently shared with The Sunday Times how unexpectedly wonderful it was to find love later in life. Despite only being together a little over a year when they got engaged, she described it as feeling like they’d known each other forever – a beautiful testament to a deep and instant connection.

The actress shared that she quickly realized she wanted to spend all her time with him. She remembered feeling like she was finally home when she moved in with David in London, saying her heart told her she belonged there.

Even though they were both almost 80 years old when they got married, she said she hoped anyone her age who was single could find a similar level of happiness, adding with a touch of pride that she felt very lucky.

David shared that when he first met Maureen, he wasn’t ready to fall in love again. He was still grieving the recent loss of his wife, Frances, who had passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. They had been married for fifty years.

He cared for her for the last five years of her life and described the pain of watching her fade away as her dementia worsened. He admitted feeling utterly helpless, which deeply saddened him.

He explained that after getting to know Maureen better, what truly made him want to get married again was realizing he wanted to be there for her, to care for her no matter what.

David also realized how quickly time passes and how precious moments of happiness are. He explained that when you’re young, time seems endless, but as you get older, it feels like it speeds up – especially after you turn seventy.

Whether we have a year, five years, or even twenty years together, let’s focus on making those times as joyful as possible.

Maureen shared her concerns before starting her UK tour with her new show, Allegra, running from May to July. This will be the longest period she and her partner have spent apart.

She acknowledged things would be challenging, but explained that her recent marriage had made her rethink her priorities, and she was determined not to jeopardize her new relationship.

Okay, so she basically admitted it! She said she doesn’t want to do anything to mess things up, which is so telling. She’s found someone, and someone who wants her – she actually said that! It’s like… a perfect match, she thinks, and she’s terrified of ruining it. Honestly, just hearing her talk about it makes me so happy for her, but also… I’m dying to know everything! It’s just… rare and precious, she said. I can’t stop thinking about it!

Coronation Street actress Maureen, known for playing Evelyn Plummer, announced her engagement in The Spectator magazine. She revealed that she proposed to her partner herself while traveling by train in August 2024.

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! So, this amazing woman, she and her partner David – seriously, they’re the cutest – they decided to tell their kids they’re getting married! And get this – their combined age is 156! Can you even imagine? It’s the most beautiful, wonderful thing ever, and I’m completely obsessed with them!

I wasn’t really a fan of the idea of matchmaking, but on the train ride back from Edinburgh, he told me about Tu B’Av – a Jewish holiday where traditionally a woman could propose to a man.

I couldn’t help but blurt it out, so I got down on one knee under the table and asked for his hand in marriage. I was both surprised and a little nervous when he said yes.

I’ve always believed in the power of long-lasting relationships, and I was married to the wonderful TV scriptwriter Jack Rosenthal for three decades until he sadly passed away in 2004. We built a beautiful life together and were blessed with two children – my daughter, Amy, who’s 50, and my son, Adam, who’s 48. They’re both doing wonderfully!

David has three children with his late wife, Frances, who died in 2022.

When describing how the children reacted to the news, Maureen explained that everyone responded positively, but in their own unique way.

One child explained he needed a moment to understand what happened. When we told another, he was busy playfully covering a new dining table with leaves, which reminded me of a bittersweet but ultimately hopeful scene from a play – and I’m choosing to believe everything will be okay.

Maureen first talked about David towards the end of 2023, mentioning she would be attending the National Television Awards with a male companion.

The star, who recently found love again at 77, expressed her happiness, calling it ‘a gift’ for everyone involved. She described her new partner as ‘very nice’ and, reflecting on past relationships, said she’s enjoyed meeting interesting men throughout her life and is open to seeing where things go with this connection.

They first appeared together publicly at the Oldie of the Year Awards in November, and Maureen affectionately referred to David as her partner.

Following her husband’s passing, she was in a relationship with Italian businessman Guido Castro for 13 years until he died in 2021.

She explained that her partner had contracted Covid-19, but it wasn’t the direct cause of his death. Instead, the virus severely weakened him. They aren’t sure when or how he caught Covid, or if he had it around the time he received the vaccine.

Maureen sadly shared that she told Guido, “It’s time to go, you need to accept this.” She believes, for the first time, he actually listened to her.

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2026-03-29 14:21