Maria Connor may have kicked ex-Army girl Caz Hammond out of her flat recently, but it’s Caz who comes to Maria’s aid after she’s traumatised in a harrowing burglary.
Maria first came across the struggling Caz when she was sleeping rough on a park bench.
After Caz has her rucksack stolen, the sympathetic Maria offers her a place to stay until she sorts out her life.
Rhea Bailey, who plays Caz, suggests she’s playing the long game. She told Radio Times: “She starts to formulate a plan to get herself back on the Street.
“That’s what she wants, she just doesn’t know how to achieve it yet. She knows she needs to try and gain some more sympathy from Maria to let her move back into the flat. Caz’s only hope at the minute is Maria because she knows nobody else like her!”
Caz is first on the scene after Maria finds herself injured by a mysterious burglar. After reporting the crime to police, Caz tends to Maria’s head wound and happily accepts to stay the night in case the burglar returns.
Bailey adds: “Caz only hears what she wants to hear, that’s she’s allowed back into the flat. Feet back under the table, slippers on, she’s back!”
As Maria recovers from her ordeal, she tells Caz that it’s time to move on again. But just as Maria promises Liam that the burglar won’t return, she gets a hang up on her mobile. Is Caz the culprit and to what lengths will she go to stay by Maria’s side?
Bailey explains: “At first she wants to be part of Maria and Liam’s unit, but then eventually she develops feelings for Maria.
"To begin with she is a bit jealous and possessive. Then it grows to her doing crazier things! Her behavior does get progressively worse and I think she’ll behave in a way that people won’t be expecting.”
Is Maria spooked enough to let Caz stay? Or does she have Caz’s true character sussed?
Coronation Street continues tonight on ITV at 8.30pm.