Viewers were left baffled yesterday evening when long running character Maria Connor had an epic lapse in memory
Coronation Street scriptwriters seemed to have suffered momentary amnesia, with Maria insisting that “nobody” had ever put a ring on it – forgetting about her two previous marriages and four further engagements.
In fact, Maria Sutherland only became Maria Connor when she married Liam Connor in 2008. Prior to that, she’d had a lengthy engagement to Tyrone Dobbs and a brief one Nick Tilsley, and was later also engaged to Tony Gordon, the ex-husband of Liam’s sister Carla.
She also entered into a sham marriage in 2016 with Argentinian Pablo Duarte in order for him to gain residence in the country, for which she was handed a 12-month prison sentence (and served three).
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Coronation Street spoilers: week 16
Corrie spoilers
Determined to find out what's in Wayne's Health & Safety report on the roof collapse, Imran confronts him in the cafe and tells him Carla has done a runner – saying it implicates her.
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When Wayne steps out, Imran makes a move to snatch the report from the table but is caught red handed, with Nick stepping in to diffuse the situation.
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Later on, though, Wayne realises his car has been broken into and the report has been stolen. Wayne is convinced Imran is guilty and the police are called.
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As he's taken in for questioning, Imran maintains his innocence and when the officers ask about Nick's involvement, Imran becomes suspicious that Nick is mentioned in the report.
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Toyah learns that the police believe the factory roof was sabotaged, and passes this information on to Leanne and Nick, who is horrified.
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Worried that he may have been implicated in the Health & Safety report, Nick arranges to meet with police before anything comes to a head.
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He tells them about the £30k he put into the factory's account, claiming it was from his personal savings to pay of his ex-wife.
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Meanwhile, Peter is exhausted after searching for Carla day and night. Eventually he explains to her family that she's still missing, and though Michelle and Johnny are concerned, Kate is still scathing.
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But later on they have a change of heart, turning up at No.1 and making their apologies. They tell Peter they'll help to look for Carla as they are as worried as he is.
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When Kate receives a sealed bag of Rana's belongings, her heart is in her mouth when she sees there is an unanswered voice mail on Rana's phone.
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That evening, Michelle lashes out at Rob and says that if he hadn't accused Carla of being at fault for the roof collapse, she wouldn't have had her breakdown.
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Tim is larking about at the taxi office with Dev and Steve, messing around with the blood pressure monitor.
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When Sally unexpectedly calls in at the cab office to find them mucking around and Tim pretending to have a heart attack, she's furious.
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Losing her temper, she snaps at Tim to start taking his condition seriously as she doesn't want him to die, wiping the smile from his face.
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Meanwhile, Gemma has convinced Chesney to forgo their holiday abroad in favour of a staycation in a friend's caravan, but Chesney is unimpressed with the squalid conditions.
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When Chesney returns back from the shops, he's appalled to find that Gemma has taught Joseph poker! He angrily accuses her of being unable to look after him and declares it's the worst holiday ever.
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Her feelings hurt, Gemma storms off to a nearby pub where she makes a fool of herself in front of the locals. When Chesney finally manages to get through he's furious to hear she's drunk, and demand Gemma stomps back in the rain.
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Bethany is confused when she spots Gary driving his work van dressed in a shirt and tie.
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Passing on the information to Sarah Louise, Gary struggles to explain himself.
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Sarah is left feeling suspicious, and makes sure to watch for Gary leaving in the van the next morning in his builders clothes.
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Now demoted to 'debt collector' having been ill suited to loan sharking, Rick introduces Gary to his sidekick, Sharon, who he says will show him the ropes. When they turn up at the first house, Gary is shocked to realise it's Vicky's place.
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Sharon orders Gary to ransack Vicky's belongings and take anything he thinks might be of value.
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After they've cleared her stuff Sharon begins knocking Vicky about. Horrified, how will Gary react?
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Meanwhile, Sarah has followed Gary in the van and is shocked to see him enter Vicky's house. Later on she confides her fears in Bethany that Gary is in over his head.
Corrie soilers
After a horrible day, Gary calls Rick who tells him that since he still owes him £11k, he suggests that Gary do everything he is asked.
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Arriving back at the builders yard, Gary is horrified to find that Rick is there lying in wait for him.
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Forced to sign over his van and all the items in the yard to cover his debt, Gary gives Cathy Alex's passport and tells he has got involved with a loan shark and he needs to pay it all back ASAP.
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Finally, she was briefly also engaged to Like Britton in the same year, but the couple broke up after she had a one night stand after she cheated on him.
Phew!
Viewers were confused as the dialogue between Maria and her friend David Platt (former fiancé Nick Tilsley’s brother) unfolded on screen, following their last place ranking in Emma Brooker’s Mr and Mrs competition at the Rovers.
After their unceremonious exit from the stage, David jokes that they should get “fake divorced”, to which Maria replies, “Well, you never put a ring on it.”
David then makes the curious remark, “Neither did anyone else”, and Maria agrees.
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Except they did.
Fans took to twitter to blast the blunder, with one writing, “Has Maria forgotten she was married? Liam? She was engaged at 16 as well to Tyrone, that's still 'a ring on it..!”
Another said, “Ehm, Maria was married, to Liam Connor #Corrie?? And engaged to (his killer) Tony Gordon??"
It looks like even dedicated viewers can’t recall the extent of Maria’s ring collection, so maybe that the scriptwriter’s excuse, too?