Samia Longchambon says Mikey North will have a big role in the \'Coronation Street\' Christmas episodes.
The ITV soap is set to amp up the drama over the festive season and although specific details are being kept under wraps, the 37-year-old actress - who plays Maria Connor - has revealed her co-star\'s alter ego Gary Windass will be taking centre stage.
She said: "It was actually really nice doing night shoots because it made it all feel completely different.
"It does get you into the Christmas spirit at first but when you have been filming it for three weeks everyone is like: \'Right, Christmas - we\'ve been there, done that!\'
"I think I got off quite lightly. Mikey North did the majority of the work but it looked amazing and from what everyone has said about the other Christmas scenes, it was really good."
Samia - whose character is set to find out she\'s expecting Gary\'s baby - is excited for viewers to witness the "many twists and turns" as the storyline unfolds on screen.
She added: "There is not one particular moment that I can pick because I love working with Mikey North and I am really enjoying doing the scenes when it\'s just Gary and Maria and we are getting our teeth into it.
"I also love this new Sarah vs Maria storyline and we\'ve got lots more stuff coming up as well. Everything as a whole has been really fun and exciting."
Gary has returned to his villainous ways in recent months, and Mikey previously revealed he is "better equipped to deal with" that than he was earlier in his cobbles career.
He explained: "It is like going back to the early days of bad Gary when he was hated and I get people shouting murderer at me in the street, but it is in slightly better humour than it was when I was 21 and I am better equipped to deal with it."
