Shock proposal for Corrie couple

Coronation Street's Tony Gordon will ironically ask for Maria Connor's hand in marriage on the first anniversary of her husband Liam's death.

As the pair visit Liam's graveside, Tony - who had Liam (Rob-James Collier) killed in a hit-and-run last year after discovering his affair with his wife Carla (Alison King) - removes his wedding band, before professing his love to new mum Maria.

According to The Sun, he says: "You and the baby are everything I'll ever want for the rest of my life. Marry me, Maria! I want you to be my wife and I want baby Liam to be my son."

Maria - played by 27-year-old Samia Smith - excitedly accepts his proposal, exclaiming: "Yes, yes, of course! Of course I will. Oh Tony, I love you so much."

Before returning to the Street, Maria says her final words to Liam: "You know I'll always remember you, Liam and I'll never forget what we shared together. But I know you'd want me to be happy."

She adds: "So sleep peacefully forever, darling because the time has come for me to let go and move on."

Earlier this year, Tony (Gray O'Brien) delivered Maria's baby son Liam in a beach hut when Maria unexpectedly went into labour while taking a stroll on Southport beach.

However, it is not long before Liam's parents Barry (Frank Grimes) and Helen (Dearbhla Molloy) hear the news of the engagement and Helen quickly blasts her daughter-in-law's decision, saying: "You're widowed only 12 months and here you are jumping into another man's arms! It's disgusting the way you're rubbing our noses in it - and on the day our beautiful Liam was killed. May you rot in hell!"

The scenes pave the way for Alison King's comeback as Carla Gordon, who fled Weatherfield at the beginning of the year after a dramatic showdown in Underworld with husband Tony.

In real life, King went on maternity leave and gave birth to her first daughter Daisy Mae with boyfriend Adam Huckett in February.

Smith will also head off on maternity leave at the beginning of October following the announcement that she is expecting her first baby with husband Matt.