Alison King gives her 'Coronation Street' co stars "great massages."

Alison King

Alison King

Samia Longchambon - who plays Maria Connor in the long-running soap - is thrilled that the 44-year-old actress has decided to reprise her role as Carla Connor in the ITV show because it means she gets to have some work done on her shoulders in between takes.

She said: "It's lovely. She's slotted back in. It's like she's never been away. She gives great massages."

And, although the cast are very busy with their storylines, the 35-year-old actress still gets to spend a lot of time with her friends away from the soap and last summer went on a spa date with Jane Danson.

She added: "Jane Danson and her family live around the corner. Over the summer we had time off at the same time so we were having coffee, going for walks and visiting the spa. It was great."

However, it hasn't been the easiest of times for the soap as Liz Dawn - who played Vera Duckworth - tragically passed away from a long illness she'd been battling.

Samia explained: "That was so sad. I went to see her in hospital a few days before she passed away. I was really glad I saw her. She is so missed by us all.

"It still doesn't feel real that she's not at the end of the phone. We used to speak every few weeks, just to have a catch up. I can't delete her umber out of phone."

Meanwhile, Samia's alter-ego Maria was wrapped up in one of the soap's biggest storylines last year as she embarked on an affair with Aidan Connor (Shayne Ward) and, although they're no longer seeing each other, the brunette beauty is worried about who she'll get involved with next.

She told OK! magazine: "I'm not sure who Maria's next victim is. That's what I'm calling them now. Anybody she goes out with has something bad happen to them. She's going to be getting involved in other people's business for a change."

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