Coronation Street: Samia Longchambon confirms Maria WILL escape factory collapse unharmed and reveals cast have started filming terrifying scenes already

CORONATION Street favourite Samia Longchambon has confirmed she isn’t the character who will die in March’s shock Underworld collapse.

The actress – who plays Maria Connor in the ITV soap – revealed she was safe from the axe after boss Iain MacLeod unveiled plans to kill off a cobbles favourite in the upcoming factory tragedy.

When asked if she was going to be killed off, Samia exclusively told The Sun Online: “Not as far as I know, it’s not me.”

It comes just hours after The Sun revealed how it is Rana Habeeb who will be sensationally killed off later this year.

The popular lesbian character, played by Bhavna Limbachia, 34, since 2016, will be written out in a big storyline in the coming months.

Samia confirmed: “It’s going to be someone well-loved.”

Samia, who tried to keep the identity of was going to die under wraps, added: “We’re about to film it. But it’s definitely going to be a shock.”

Details of her death are being kept under wraps by secretive bosses on the ITV series but initial plans involved her dying on her wedding day to partner Kate Connor, played by Faye Brookes, 31.

The Sun understands that Bhavna – who has had roles in Doctors, Casualty and Citizen Khan – told former show boss Kate Oates last year that she wanted to try other projects.

And when new executive producer Iain Macleod joined she immediately told him of her plans, with script writers then beginning work on a dramatic exit.

An ITV source said: “This will devastate fans of the show who have grown to love Kate and Rana, who they nicknamed Kana.

“This was very much Bhavna’s decision, she told Kate Oates last year she wanted to try other things, and sat down with Iain the minute he joined.

“She wanted Rana to be killed off as she didn’t like the idea of just splitting them up as it would upset the fans of the show.

“The scenes will be heartbreaking to watch. Rana will die in Kate’s arms.”

Rana has become a fan favourite on the long-running ITV soap since being introduced in 2016.

She married her friend Alya Nazir’s brother Zeedan, but they later divorced.

She then developed feelings for Kate, and got engaged after both buying rings and planning to propose to each other.

They split at the end of last year because Kate wants children but Rana does not.

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