It looks like there could be love in the Weatherfield air in next week’s Coronation Street when Ali Neeson sets his sights on an unsuspecting Maria Connor.
Maria is renowned for being unlucky in love, and despite the fact she is still young, the mum of one has found herself befriending the likes of Gail Rodwell and Audrey Roberts recently, and is starting to feel old before her time.
But next week the hairdresser becomes determined to do something about her non-existent love life and tries her hand at internet dating… but could there be romance waiting for her right there on the cobbles?
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After getting a phone call from Liam’s school next week asking her to collect him, Maria throws Ali out of the salon as she closes up and races to pick up her poorly boy.
But as she later takes Liam to the doctors’ surgery, it seems Maria might have found herself an admirer as Ali throws lustful glances at her, clearly developing feelings for her.
Maria was married to Ali’s uncle, Liam Connor (senior!) and although they’re not blood related, she is technically his aunty!
However, while little Liam clocks that his mum has got an admirer, Maria is oblivious to the fact the doctor has got a crush and decides to set up an online dating profile to meet someone new.
With some help from Emma, Maria joins an online dating website and it doesn’t take long for her to get some responses.
But when she starts reading what the men who have contacted her have to say, she is horrified at their raunchy responses.
Bethany checks Maria’s profile to see what she has said about herself, and it’s only when she clocks that Maria has put ‘Netflix and chill’ as one of her favourite ways to spend her spare time, all becomes clear.
Maria is horrified to discover that Netflix and chill means something entirely different to putting your feet up and watching a good box set, and orders Bethany to delete the app immediately.
With her first attempt at online dating proving to be a disaster, Maria is downhearted and convinced that she will never meet anyone to spend her future with.
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Heading to the pub to drown her sorrows, she bumps into Ali and offloads to him about her dating disaster… but as she vents, Ali hints that there’s probably someone perfect for her right under her nose.
But while he is subtly trying to tell Maria that he’s got the hots for her, she clearly doesn’t get the hint.
It looks like Ali is going to have to be a lot more obvious if he wants to be in with a chance with Maria.
Will these two ever get it together?
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.
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