ITV Coronation Street's Samia Longchambon showered with support as she reveals 'new challenge' away from soap

Coronation Street star Samia Longchambon has been showered with support as she finally got to reveal why she spent some time away from her job on the cobbles earlier this month. The actress, who plays Maria Windass in the ITV soap, teased how she had been working down south for a few days but couldn't reveal what she had been up to - until now.

Samia is among the famous faces who have signed up for the third series of Cooking With The Stars. Emma Willis and Tom Allen are returning as hosts of the show, presiding over all the action as eight celebrities are paired with professional chefs who will mentor them, in a bid to transform them from amateur to expert in a matter of weeks.

Joining Samia in the cooking challenge is actor Jason Watkins, boxing legend Chris Eubank, actress Joanna Page, singer and television personality Peter Andre, Busted’s Matt Willis, Steps’ Claire Richards and Love Island star Indiyah Polack.

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Throughout the series the celebrities will be guided by their Chef Mentor as they attempt to create the winning dish in a series of intense Cooking Battles. The loser of each Battle will then have to fight for their place in the competition in the Cook Off – as they're tasked with creating a dish they’ve never seen before. Judged blind by all the chefs there is the possibility that the losing celebrity could be sent home by their own Chef Mentor.

Revealing her latest gig on Instagram, Samia posted a selfie of herself with her chef mentor, Michelin Starred French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. "Thrilled to finally announce the new challenge that I’m taking on… @itv Cooking with the stars!" She went on to share: "Thank you to you,