Baby delight for Corrie star

Coronation Street star Samia Smith today gave birth to a baby girl, a spokeswoman for the soap announced.

The 27-year-old actress, who plays Maria Connor in the soap, welcomed daughter Freya with her husband, property developer Matt Smith.

They are said to be “delighted” with the arrival of their first child.

Smith announced her pregnancy just days after her father Joseph died of cancer in April.

Viewers have recently seen the actress hiding her baby bump with cushions and baggy clothes on screen.

In a brief statement, a soap spokeswoman said: “Samia Smith has today given birth to a baby girl named Freya, 7lbs 2oz. Mum and baby doing well. Samia and husband Matt are delighted.

Everyone at Corrie is thrilled at the latest arrival to the ’Corrie family’.”

In the soap, Maria is unaware that her fiance Tony Gordon (Gray O’Brien) is responsible for the death of her husband Liam.

Tonight, Tony’s wife Carla Gordon (Alison King), one of the only people to know the truth about the murder, makes her explosive return to screens.