Samia Longchambon relieved to have dodged serial killer storyline

Samia Longchambon gets "nervous" when there's a killer on 'Coronation Street' in case it means she's set for the axe.

The 41-year-old actress - who has played Maria Connor since 2000 - admitted she was relieved when she was told she wouldn't be involved in the plot surrounding murderer Stephen Reid (Todd Boyce) because whenever there's a storyline featuring a string of deaths, the cast all fear they'll be the victims.

She told the Daily Star newspaper's HotTV column: "It's always really exciting when there’s a big storyline but we all get quite nervous, absolutely.

"I'm glad I haven’t been involved in the Stephen Reid storyline. I was told I wouldn’t be part of it so I have been able to watch it like everyone else."

After 23 years on the cobbles, Samia doesn't have any desire to leave the soap.

She said: "At Corrie a lot of the cast are still the same as when I started and a lot of the crew are still there, so there is a family atmosphere. It’s just a lovely place to work."

And the actress is proud of the "impact" the programme can have on viewers' lives.

She said: "The show has an impact on people’s lives. When we cover big issues, it’s nice that people can relate to them. It helps people, which is so nice."

Samia previously admitted she feels like the "older guard" on the show now and has been offering advice to her younger co-stars.

She said: "We feel like the older guard now in the green room. We've got all of our young, gorgeous new cast.

"When us old timers go in we're like, 'Oh my God we feel so old.'

"Me and Mikey [North, Gary Windass], the other week, we were giving Millie Gibson some advice about how to start a pension because Bill Tarmey gave me and Alan [Halsall, Tyrone Dobbs] that advice when I joined.

"So, we were like, 'We need to pass this wisdom onto you.' So now she's got her pension sorted."