It's not unusual for Coronation Street fans' theories to become reality and their latest prediction would certainly rock the cobbles. During Monday night's trip to Weatherfield, viewers watched as Maria Windass pressed on with her campaign to win a place on the local council and continue her clean air mission.
However, she was coming up against stiff competition as Bernard Barnes as threatened to derail her campaign by turning up to her tree planting with two Weatherfield County footballers - including Maria's neighbour James Bailey. But after a chat with Phill Whittaker, the boyfriend of Fiz Stape who happens to work for the council, she managed to get the information she needed to turn the campaign on its head.
Phill managed to turn it around for Maria as he secretly got his hands on a report that revealed the council have been covering up the dangers of local air pollution. Armed with all the information, Maria gatecrashed Bernard's chat with a journalist and handed her the damning report revealing it came off the back of her speaking to a whistleblower.
READ MORE: ITV Coronation Street stars pose for 'family portrait ahead of major discovery
Later in the Bistro as Maria celebrated her small victory, she offered to buy Phill and Fiz a drink, telling her friend: "Your fella is a hero, honestly, you are Phill!"
But their sudden closeness has got fans thinking there is an affair on the cards as it is soapland after all.
@Samanth22356123 tweeted: "Why do I get the feeling there’s a Maria/Phil affair storyline coming??! #Corrie."
"I think Maria will try and steal Phil from Fizz or Phil will try to seduce Maria. He looks way too dodgy. #Corrie #CoronationStreet @itvcorrie," @Wee_Westie29 predicted.
@GeorgiaBowring shared: "#Corrie Phil and Maria are gonna get it on!"
"Phil's gonna sleep with Maria #Corrie," @RyanGTweetsTV added.
Others think that Phill's interest in helping Maria is for his own benefit with @conormckenna101 commenting: "I’d bet Phil is using Maria to get to a position of power himself #corrie."
During Wednesday night's Corrie viewers will see Maria and husband Gary Windass head out of the polling station and pose for photos after casting their votes. But Maria feels terrible as Phill admits he may lose his job over the leaked report and Kirk’s been sacked as Buzzer Bee.