Actor quits West End show in protest over co-star Dame Maureen Lipman's pro-Israel views

Do you have a story? Email lettice.bromovsky@dailymail.co.uk See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 19:50 EDT, 1 September 2026 | Updated: 19:54 EDT, 1 September 2026 An actor has walked away from a West End production after refusing to promote his co-star Dame Maureen Lipman over her outspoken support for Israel.Gerard McCarthy, who has appeared in BBC dramas including Call the Midwife and The Fall, had been due to reprise his role in Right Before I Go when it transfers to London's Soho Theatre.But the actor decided to withdraw after the casting of Dame Maureen, 80, was announced, saying her publicly expressed views on Israel and Palestine were incompatible with his own political beliefs.Mr McCarthy, who performed in the play at the Edinburgh Fringe, said he had privately raised his concerns before ultimately deciding to leave the London production.He wrote on Instagram: 'Following the announcement that Dame Maureen Lipman would be joining the company, I privately explained that, because of views she has publicly and repeatedly expressed regarding Israel and Palestine, I did not feel comfortable personally promoting her involvement.'I did not ask for her casting to be reconsidered or expect anyone else to share my position. I simply chose not to use my own platform to promote someone whose political views are at odds with my own.'The actor has not publicly set out his own position on the conflict in the Middle East.He initially remained involved in the Edinburgh production alongside its creator, Stan Zimmerman, but later indicated that tensions had developed between the pair. Gerard McCarthy, who has appeared in BBC dramas including Call the Midwife and The Fall, had been due to reprise his role in Right Before I Go when it transfers to London's Soho Theatre Mr McCarthy walked away from a West End production after refusing to promote his co-star Dame Maureen Lipman over her outspoken support for IsraelMr McCarthy said: 'Unfortunately, a subsequent conversation with Stan Zimmerman made me feel that withdrawing from the performance was the right decision for me.'Dame Maureen has not commented publicly on the dispute.The veteran actress has been one of the more prominent British Jewish voices in support of Israel since the October 7 attacks and has faced fierce criticism from pro-Palestinian activists.She has previously spoken about receiving anti-Semitic abuse and threats of protests and cancellation, and has at times been forced to use private security while touring theatres.Right Before I Go deals with the sensitive subject of suicide, drawing on real suicide notes written by a range of people including celebrities, military veterans, bullied teenagers and members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as people who survived suicide attempts.Each performance is followed by a discussion involving members of the cast, the audience and a local mental health professional.