Shipton was raised as a Roman Catholic, and was educated in a convent in south London. She studied two languages and journalism, but her drama teacher told her that she had the potential to become an actress, and consequently she trained at Rose Bruford College from 1977 to 1980.
During a five-year career after graduation which involved long periods of unemployment, she trained as an aerobics instructor as a secondary career. Originally her agent thought she should be considered for the role of Susie the receptionist on British Broadcasting Corporation One"s Casualty, however since most people thought she was a nurse she suggested otherwise with the result that on 11 January 1986 cast as Lisa "Duffy" Duffin. She played the role for the first eight series, which saw the character becoming a sister in the Emergency Department and become a single mother, before taking a four-series-long break, and returning for a further four series.
She departed in 2003 and returned for a two-part special in 2006 for the series opener of series 21.
Once again reprising her role as Duffy in August 2015, Duffy returned for two episodes. Shipton is set to reprise the role of Duffy again in 2016.
Personal life
The couple live in Acton, west London, and have a daughter Tallullah Grace Lily (born March 2001), given a Cherokee name meaning "she laughs like a babbling brook," after inspiration from January Anderson. She is a strict non smoker and has run various marathons.
