Coronation Street‘s Lou Michaelis causes more chaos next week as she cosies up to married man Gary Windass.

Having escaped her violent husband Mick when he turned nasty over her past fling with Kit Green, Lou is ready to try to rebuild her life. Does that include trying to steal Maria Connor’s man?

“Getting away from Mick was the right thing for Lou to do, but becoming a single mum and starting again will be difficult,” our Corrie insider explains.

“But Lou certainly knows how to rub the Weatherfield locals up the wrong way, which means she won’t make it easy for herself…”

Unable to tolerate Mick’s temper any longer, Lou does a runner this week and leaves daughters Shanice and Joanie with the Metcalfes.

However, with Mick later put behind bars for assault, the coast clears for Lou to come home and resume her motherly duties.

Unfortunately, she’s burned her bridges with Maria, who gives her the sack from her job at the salon.

Annoyed at suddenly becoming unemployed, Lou decides to drown her sorrows and heads to The Rovers.

Bumping into Gary, Lou apologises on her horrid husband’s behalf for the beating he gave him, and explains that she was on the receiving end of Mick’s violence for years.

While Gary has serious beef with the Michaelis clan, he can’t help but feel sorry for Lou as she opens up about her abusive marriage. Ever the gent, Gary offers to buy her a drink – and with impeccable timing, Maria walks in…

“If looks could kill, Maria would be up for murder,” our source adds. “She thought she’d seen the last of Lou, now here she is enjoying a bevvy with her fella. If Lou’s not careful, that drink could end up poured over her head…”

Panicky Gary has to quickly calm the frosty atmosphere between the ladies, and desperately tries to stop the situation escalating.

Empathising with his wife’s ex-employee, will he ask Maria to give Lou a break considering everything she’s been through? And does Lou actually have her eye on Gary?

Coronation Street airs these scenes on Wednesday 28 May on ITV1 and ITVX.