Lou Michaelis (Farrel Hegarty) is a woman on a mission in upcoming Coronation Street episodes – and the mission seems to be to drive a wedge between Gary Windass (Mikey North) and Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon).

Since her husband Mick (Joe Layton) killed Craig Tinker (Colson Smith), Lou has had very few friends or allies in Weatherfield but one person who has given her some support is Gary.

He knows what it’s like to be perceived as the villain because he’s been there himself. He also feels that it’s wrong to blame Lou for Mick’s crimes as she’s also a victim of her husband’s violence.

But for a survivor like Lou, Gary’s shows of kindness have made him vulnerable to being targeted. When he agreed to help her sell Mick’s van, Lou later visited Mick in prison and told him that Gary had been a ‘life saver.’ She said she would do whatever it took to survive.

Maria is deeply suspicious of Lou, and very annoyed that Gary is even giving her the time of day. The two have already had several run-ins, notably at Craig’s memorial when Maria told Lou she wasn’t welcome. In return, Lou casually dropped the information that Gary had bought Mick’s van, leaving Maria seething.

The next thing that happened was that Maria was arrested for ABH. At the Platts’ barbecue Lou fell through a glass coffee table and insisted that Maria had deliberately pushed her.

Maria claimed that she’d caught Lou about to steal the salon takings from Shona (Julia Goulding)’s bag and said she tried to grab Lou, who tripped and fell into the table.

Lou protested her innocence and when Shona confirmed that the money was still in her bag, it looked like it was Maria who was in the wrong.

Gary was certainly on team Lou in the aftermath, telling Maria she should apologise. Lou told Gary that she wouldn’t press charges as he’d been so kind to her. A livid Maria accused Gary of fancying Lou.

Coming up, Maria returns home after being released from custody pending further investigations. She rages at Lou for reporting her to the police, but Lou insists she kept her word to Gary and didn’t report Maria.

With tensions between Gary and Maria still high, Lou calls to see Gary on his own and reiterates that she doesn’t want any trouble with him or his family. Gary accepts this and thank her, and offers her a beer.