The cast of Coronation Street have been hit by yet another tragedy as 26 year old Samia Smith – who plays Maria Connor – revealed she is “devastated” that her father has died following a battle with cancer.

A show insider told The Sun that Samia had been given compassionate leave while she copes with her grief, adding, “Samia was close to her dad Joseph and is upset.”

Samia’s grief comes after a string of bereavements for the Street’s cast; Bill Roache’s wife died suddenly in February and Kym Marsh’s baby died after being born prematurely.

The show’s writers have had to “juggle filming schedules” to accommodate Samia’s time off as she was filming a major storyline in which her character Maria is “getting closer” to killer Tony Gordon.

Our condolences to Samia and her family.