An 'ology? No, a damehood: Actress Maureen Lipman is set to become a dame in the Queen's birthday honours

Maureen Lipman, who became a household name after her role in the 1980s' BT adverts, is set to become a dame in the Queen's birthday honours, it emerged last night.

The 74-year-old actress will reportedly be recognised for her services to art and charity.

She had her first big break in the 1968 film Up The Junction, which starred Suzy Kendall and Dennis Waterman.

Mrs Lipman would go on to appear in such movie classics as Educating Rita and the Oscar-winning Holocaust drama The Pianist. She was also recently in Coronation Street. 

Maureen Lipman, who became a household name after her role in the 1980s' BT adverts, is set to become a dame in the Queen's birthday honours, it emerged last night

The role for which she is perhaps best known is Jewish grandmother 'Beattie' in the BT ads. First shown in 1987, Beattie won the hearts of millions when she told her grandson who had failed all his exams except pottery and sociology: 'You get an 'ology, you're a scientist'

The 74-year-old actress will reportedly be recognised for her services to art and charity. (She is seen above as Evelyn in Coronation Street in 2019)

However, the role for which she is perhaps best known is Jewish grandmother 'Beattie' in the BT ads.

First shown in 1987, Beattie won the hearts of millions when she told her grandson who had failed all his exams except pottery and sociology: 'You get an 'ology, you're a scientist.'  

A life-long labour supporter, she was a vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.

In 2018, she joined thousands of furious protesters outside Labour HQ, saying she could never return to the party with an 'anti-Semite at its head'.

The Jewish actress said she was attending 'as a disenfranchised socialist' and agreed with a placard reading 'Corbyn made me a Tory'.

That same year, Left-wing activists demanded her removal from Coronation Street after she criticised the Labour leader.

Maureen had her first big break in the 1968 film Up The Junction , which starred Suzy Kendall and Dennis Waterman

Mrs Lipman would go on to appear in such movie classics as Educating Rita and the Oscar-winning Holocaust drama The Pianist

The actress was married to television playwright Jack Rosenthal until his death in 2004

News that Mrs Lipman is to become a dame, as reported in The Times, comes after she was honoured with a CBE in 1999.

She was married to television playwright Jack Rosenthal until his death in 2004.

The honours list is also set to include medical workers, fundraisers and volunteers who have been involved in the response to the coronavirus.

The list was finalised before the pandemic took root in Britain, but was postponed from June until this coming week in order to include people involved in the battle against Covid-19.

Meanwhile, Mary Berry is also understood to be made a dame in the forthcoming Queen's Birthday Honours list.

The 85-year-old former Great British Bake Off judge has been marked out for the honour after six decades of cookery broadcasting and writing.

Mrs Berry, who received a CBE eight years ago for services to culinary arts, has written more than 70 cookbooks. 

Mary Berry is also said to be made a dame in the forthcoming Queen's Birthday Honours list. The 85-year-old former Great British Bake Off judge has been marked out for the honour after six decades of cookery broadcasting and writing