'Coronation Street' star Samia Smith has said she hopes that her upcoming storyline in the soap will not offend survivors of sexual assault.
Warning: spoiler alert!
Viewers will see Smith's character, Maria Connor, sexually assaulted by businessman Frank Foster (Andrew Lancel).
Smith told The Press Association: "A few years ago my first kind of hard-hitting storyline was when Maria had the stillborn baby and it sort of makes you really hyper-aware that other people have been through it, so you kind of want to do it justice.
"It's the same with this one really. Sexual assault is a very serious issue, so I want to do it justice and hopefully not offend people who have been sexually assaulted."
Of working with her new co-star Lancel, she said: "I think he's obviously really enjoying the challenge of it but it's also a bit tricky coming in and playing an instant baddie.
"They are long hours, they're 12 hour days that we do so it's tiring but it's sort of exhilarating as well because you're getting your script and when you've done it, hopefully you're going to be proud of what you've done.
"It's a really important storyline as well. I think it's nice to tackle hard-hitting topics."
