Corrie star Maureen Lipman says ITV has offered her security amid rising anti-Jewish hate after slamming ‘liberals’ who fail to condemn Hamas atrocities

• The 77-year-old actress ‘had a real surprise’ finding out about the extra security 

Corrie star Dame Maureen Lipman says that ITV has offered her security amid rising anti-Jewish hate, after she slammed ‘liberals’ who fail to condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas. 

The 77-year old soap star has been left stunned after being told by ITV bosses that she was being offered security to protect her from anti-Semitic attacks, saying: ‘this is where we are now’. 

The actress, who is also known for 1983 comedy-drama Educating Rita and 2002 drama The Pianist, was offered protection by the broadcaster after she blasted ‘bleeding heartless liberals’ for accusing Israel of war crimes without condemning the attacks led by Hamas.

Dame Maureen joined 210 public figures to sign a letter – the October Declaration – condemning the BBC’s refusal to call Hamas ‘terrorists’ amid a surge of anti-Semitism in the UK.

Speaking at an event at the London Centre for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism, she said: ‘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.’ 

The 77-year old soap star has been left stunned after being told by ITV bosses that she was being offered security to protect her from anti-Semitic attacks, saying: ‘his is where we are now’

Another Jewish actress, ex-Eastender star Tracy-Ann Oberman, was also at the event and revealed that she is in a ‘dystopian nightmare’ after being given extra security on her tour for a version 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.’

Dame Maureen signed the October Declaration along with a vast range of figures, Jewish and non-Jewish including Sir Tom Stoppard, Lord Owen, Professor Richard Dawkins, Rachel Riley, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, Sir Richard Dearlove and Simon Sebag Montefiore, over the weekend. 

Another Jewish actress, ex-Eastender star Tracy-Ann Oberman, was also at the event and revealed that she is in a ‘dystopian nightmare’ after being given extra security on her tour for a version of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice

The details a 651 per cent rise in recorded anti-Semitic incidents since Hamas launched its murderous attack on October 7, and the sad spectacle of Jewish schools being forced to close.

They wrote: We are a group of concerned British citizens and residents from a wide range of backgrounds and professions who stand in solidarity with British Jews and condemn all forms of anti-Semitism, whether in Britain or elsewhere.’

In a criticism of the BBC, the signatories say: ‘We ask the media, members of all political parties and everyone in public life to call out Hamas for what it is: a terrorist organisation.’

After a group calling itself Artists for Palestine UK, which included actors Steve Coogan and Tilda Swinton, published a letter accusing Israel of war crimes without condemning the attacks led by Hamas, Dame Maureen gave a scathing response.

She said: ‘These bleeding heartless liberals care so deeply for the Palestinians… that they espouse their cause at the expense of every other oppressed people of the world… Shame. Shame. Shame on every one of you.’

ITV bosses have offered security to Corrie star Dame Maureen Lipman to protect her from anti-Semitic attacks

The declaration further adds: ‘British Jews should not live in fear because of actions taken by the state of Israel to defend itself.

‘The British state must do everything in its power to protect them.

‘While we respect the right of all groups to engage in peaceful protest, we urge the police to enforce the law without fear or favour.’

This comes after a significant spike in hate crime across Britain, with 218 anti-Semitic offences reported in London between October 1 and 18, compared with 15 during the same period in 2022.

On Sunday Coogan released a statement, before Dame Maureen’s comments came to light, in which he condemned ‘the recent Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel; their deliberate murder of civilians and their taking of hostages’. 

A group calling itself Artists for Palestine UK, which included including actors Steve Coogan (pictured) , published a letter accusing Israel of war crimes

He also said: ‘The Jewish people have been uniquely the target of hate and prejudice for millennia and anyone who cares about human rights should be vigilant and call it out when they encounter it.

‘It goes without saying that what Hamas did is evil beyond imagination. It was horrific and brutal.

‘It is in no way inconsistent with condemnation of the Hamas atrocity, to express grave concern for the lives and welfare of innocent Palestinian civilians facing a humanitarian disaster, deprived of food, water, medicine fuel and shelter.’

In a Thursday statement to X, formerly Twitter, Outlander star Sam Heughan said he ‘inadvertently’ signed the Artists For Palestine UK letter and it does not reflect his ‘beliefs’.

Heughan added: ‘I believed it was a simple call for peace… It wasn’t.

‘I condemn violence in any form. I stand against terrorism and evil and am heartbroken and appalled by the recent horrific actions by Hamas. It’s haunting to the core, my heart goes out to all affected.

‘I don’t know nearly enough and (I am) trying to educate myself on the conflicts in the Middle East.’

The Met revealed that the racially aggravated attacks on the Jewish community in the capital had risen by more than 1,353 per cent compared to last year. 

And the Union of Jewish student’s welfare hotline has had more than 150 calls since October 7, from people reporting offences including verbal abuse and intimidation.

On Saturday, a man was spotted in a video ‘chanting pro-Hamas slogans’ during the huge pro-Palestine protests in London

He was held in custody after being arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred. 

Another male in a grey hoodie held up a megaphone and appeared to continually bellow ‘Hamas’ in the 35-second clip which has had more than three million views on X 

A man wearing all black waves a Shahada flag in Whitehall during huge pro-Palestine protests on London’s streets

The man wearing all black was seen waving a black and white Shahada flag in Whitehall at around 4.45pm on Saturday while another male in a grey hoodie held up a megaphone to his mouth and appeared to be bellowing ‘Hamas’. 

The 35-second viral clip has had more than three million views on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Telegraph reported the men chanted ‘God’s curse be upon the Jews’ and ‘God’s curse upon Israel’.  

On Sunday night, the Metropolitan Police posted a picture of the man and wrote on X: ‘Yesterday this man was filmed shouting racist abuse in Whitehall. Tonight he is in custody having being arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.’  

It comes after ministers said they would speak to police after Islamists on the streets of London made ‘completely reprehensible’ calls for jihad against Israel.

A solidarity rally was held in Trafalgar Square, central London on Sunday, demanding for the release of hostages who are believed to have been taken captive by Hamas. 

A young woman can be seen breaking into tears at the emotional protest

Crowds carrying Israeli flags chanted ‘bring them home’ at the event held to highlight the suffering of the women, men and children who are believed to have been taken captive by Hamas

Michael Gove told a pro-Israel rally in Trafalgar Square that ‘Britain stands with Israel’, as the minster condemned the ‘horrific slaughter of Jewish people’ by Hamas

Attendees of the vigil were protected by both the police and the Community Security Trust, a charity that protects British Jews from anti-Semitism and related threats, with access to Trafalgar Square being limited to the North Terrace.

Hundreds attended solidarity rally, which was organised by a number of groups, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Many in the crowd chanted ‘bring them home’ and held signs that said ‘release the hostages’.

While others carried Israeli flags, and placards showing the faces of those taken hostage.

Communities Secretary Michael Gove told the rally that ‘Britain stands with Israel’.

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