Coronation Street Blog: CORRIE PRESS DAY - Will Maria leave Audrey's Salon? Interview with Samia Longchambon

CORRIE PRESS DAY (PART 3) 13th of June 2018 – Coronation Street Studios – Salford

Welcome to interview No. 3 of my visit to the Coronation Street set, and my day caught in a flurry of exclusive summer storyline interviews.

Following our interview with Antony Cotton, it was time for a quick break. Siezing my opportunity to vape, Corrie PR led me to a ‘Smoking Area’, located just behind the interview hub. Within spitting distance of the set extension, I caught a glimpse of Tattoo’ll Do Niceley and Weatherfield North Tram Stop, before it was back into another round of interviews. The stage was set, and this time it was with Salon strumpet and man-eater – Maria Connor, actress Samia Longchambon. Looking freshly tanned from a short break abroad, (the slightly smaller than imagined, but very pretty) Samia, led us into the interview.

As Audrey dismisses Maria’s idea of an investment in the salon, resentment sets in. Will the stylist now branch out and go it alone?

"It's really nice not having a storyline involving a man," laughs Samia as she explains Maria’s latest predicament. "Maria ends up doing Angie’s hair in her flat as a one-off, then Tracy gets wind of it, and starts blackmailing Maria saying she will tell Audrey, unless you do my hair in your flat so it's kind of Tracy that’s the catalyst for it all until Audrey finds out that she’s been doing everyone’s hair, including Gail's."

Does Maria feel like she’s betraying Audrey in any way?

"She does, yes, because that’s why she doesn’t tell her originally, as she doesn’t want to upset her. She’s got Liam, she did offer to invest in the salon but she feels that Audrey is now stopping her develop really."

Tempted by Claudia’s return and with the offer of a franchise, Maria needs to find an investment for a potential business opportunity, within her sights.

Does Maria feel like holding back for Audrey or going for Claudia’s new venture?

"I think she really wants to go for it, by this point it’s got so sour with Audrey, who by now is chucking her out of the flat and having a go at her, she feels the need to go for the franchise with Claudia. However, just as Audrey tries to apologise to Maria during a scene in the Rovers, Claudia walks in announcing that they are going into business together instead."

Samia also divulged and told us of a classic ‘near miss’, behind the scenes when pretending to cut the iconic Barbara Knox’s (Rita Sullivan) hair.

"It was an old-fashioned hairdryer with the visor that comes down, and in the scene, Rita’s under the visor and I just pulled it back without lifting it up and Barbara’s head nearly got pulled off!" laughed Samia.

From a Corrie fan's perspective, that was a gem of Corrie back-stage knowledge that I had to share with you.

A lot is coming up in future episodes for Maria, will she stay with Audrey or set out with a new set of scissors for Claudia?

I am @rybazoxo and I write Wednesday night episode reviews for @CoroStreetBlog

Follow me for more content on Corrie’s summer storylines...coming soon.

Ryan