History repeats for Maria next week (Picture: ITV)

Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon) once again finds herself a target of online trolls in upcoming Coronation Street episodes when her work on the council attracts attention from people who arejust intent on stirring up hate.

Samia has been telling us that it’s a storyline close to her heart, after being a victim of online trolling herself.

‘It’s not nice, it’s horrible,’ she says. ‘I don’t think anyone can say that it doesn’t affect them because you’re human. It does affect you, it can ruin your day, it can ruin your week, it’s horrible. I just wish they had more of a conscience before they said those things.’

Samia has previously talked about her own experience, saying, ‘I’ve certainly had trolls and to the point where it’s been really upsetting. And it’s not, it’s not nice to read. As much as people say, don’t read it. It’s almost like picking a scab, you know you shouldn’t, but at the same time, there’s a bit of you that just wants to know what other people are reading about what other people are saying about you.

‘It’s horrible and I can see why it ends up affecting people’s mental health. Over the years it has had effects on me, definitely.’

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She hopes that perhaps seeing the story on screen and the effect that this behaviour can have might make people reflect before they take to their keyboards to say something horrible about someone.

‘Just highlighting the issues and hopefully making people think about things differently is a great start,’ she explains.

‘If it just stops one person from being nasty to someone then it’s been worth it.’

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