Stepping off the Metro tram at Media City, the sun shining on Salford, I could see the ITV studios in the distance, and felt like I was back home. Saving my mobile phone power for recording audio, I turned it back on to missed messages from fellow Corrie blogger Emma Hynes who I was due to meet. With her unmissable hairstyle, I spotted our Emma having a brew near the BBC, and together we set off over the quay bridge down to my personal mecca (aka ITV Corrie studios). On that brisk stroll, I was feeling rather lucky, this was to be my third press day of interviews for the Coronation Street Blog.
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| Me in The Rovers Return |
Briefly noticing the Weatherfield North tram stop, we were escorted through studio doors and (hey ho, no biggy!) but I'm sat down in the Rovers Return snug, fumbling with pens and paper, ready to indulge in Summer 2019 Coronation Street storylines.
Never in chronological order (due to press release embargoes), this first interview is with the ever lovely (honestly she's a ray of sunshine) Samia Longchambon, as we discuss Maria Connor's chaotic love life. Yes, you've guessed it, another Weatherfield fella is about to engage with man-eating Maria's ever insatiable appetite.
But who is the lucky fella?.
Samia explains the story so far: 'She's been feeling lonely lately, all her friends are coupling up, so Emma sets her up a dating profile online'
A raft of comedy dates is due for our sassy stylist, including a guy whose ex-girlfriends are all dead (their names all ending in the letter 'a') and she has dinner at The Bistro with a guy called Rex, who likes to dress up like a dog!
Samia explains: 'Maria thinks he's a Goth because he has a collar on, she says 'Well I'm into all that as well, I used to bark with all the dogs around the kennels', the guy thinks he's got his perfect woman, before Dr Ali jokingly offers them a 'doggy bag' and her date storms out!'
More comedy beckons for Maria, which is a sharp contrast to her recent drama, so how is Samia finding it?
'It's lovely, like a breath of fresh air, showing Maria's fun side again,' she says.
Apologising for offending her, Dr Ali pops round to Maria's flat, with a bottle of wine. Maria calls Ali uptight which he responds to by having a dance with her.
Is this the start of a new romance for Maria?
Samia told us: Well they share a kiss, but Maria doesn't know how to act on it because he's Michelle's son and it's a little close to home.'
Is there a future for Maria and Ali?
'We joke that anyone who gets with Maria either gets written out, wants to leave, or dies, so they have to be careful when dating Maria.'
Coming up to her 20th year on the Corrie cobbles (next April) and having never taken an acting break from the show, how does Samia feel about that?
'It's crazy, I've spent my whole adult life on the street, its been really nice staying with Maria and watching her grow up, whilst I've grown up, it's been really special.'
You can't disagree with that sentiment, can you?
Stay tuned to Corrie to watch more of Maria's disastrous dating, and to the Coronation Street Blog for more press day interviews with me and Emma Hynes.
I am @rybazoxo your self-appointed 'cobbles connoisseur' and mid-week episode reviewer for this very blog.
TA-RA
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It's bad enough when characters can't look beyond the end of the street for a new love interest, but when they're struggling to find someone outside of their family tree that's just ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteAli's already slept with his blood relative Carla and now has his eye on his auntie Maria? I know she's only his aunt by marriage and he didn't grow up around her but still.
Maria married Liam Connor, then had an affair with his cousin Aidan, and is now apparently interested in his nephew Ali!