Alya Nazir (Sair Khan) recently returned to Coronation Street after several months working as a lawyer in Dublin – a storyline to cover Sair’s absence on maternity leave. She gave birth to a little boy in May.

Sair revealed that while Alya was away, she’d made some changes in her life: ‘You can tell that she’s been influenced by the place that she’s been working. It’s quite corporate, her look has changed.

‘She’s obviously got a bit more money, her style is much more elevated, and she’s taken time out for herself, rather than pouring everything into her family relationships, which have taken a lot from her. I think she’s taken the opportunity to be a bit selfish, and I quite like that for her.’

In upcoming episodes Alya is tested as she takes on a high profile case, and one that provokes strong feelings in many of the residents of Coronation Street, as she’s tasked with defending Mason Radcliffe (Luca Toolan)’s brother Matty (Seamus McGoff), who is accused of killing Mason.

Mason’s brothers Matty and Logan (Harry Lowbridge) came after him after he shopped them to the police over their involvement in the death of Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers)’s police officer wife, Becky. They attacked him and Abi Webster (Sally Carman) found him bleeding from a stab wound and he later died in hospital.

When Mason first appeared in the street he was a vile bully, making the life of Liam Connor (Charlie Wrenshall) a misery and almost driving him to suicide.

More recently, however, he’s been a reformed character who’s tried to do the right thing despite the ever-present threat of his brutish brothers.

People such as Stu Carpenter (Bill Fellows) and more recently Tim and Sally Metcalfe (Joe Duttine and Sally Dynevor) saw the good side of Mason, and his death causes shockwaves.

So it’s controversial for Alya to take on Matty’s defence case. Her boss talks her through the case and says they can build up a good defence based on Matty’s disadvantaged background. Alya is uncomfortable with this but strives to remain professional.  

But when Sean (Antony Cotton) – whose son Dylan (Liam McCheyne) was the one who was carrying the knife that Matty used to kill Mason – rounds on her, telling her she should be ashamed of defending someone so evil, Alya feels embarrassed.

Later she talks it through with Adam (Sam Robertson), telling him that she feels that taking the case goes against her moral judgement.

The only alternative she can see is to quit her job – but having worked so hard to get ahead in her career, is it a sacrifice she’s prepared to make?