Simon Gregson

Simon Alan Gregory (born 2 October 1974), better known by his stage name, Simon Gregson, is an English actor.

He is best known for his portrayal of Steve McDonald in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street since 1989.

He has received 17 awards for comedy and performance, plus a Legends of Industry Award.

Whilst a pupil at The Kingsway School, Stockport, in 1989, Simon Gregory entered a search for the part of one of two new cast members to join the ITV soap opera Coronation Street as the 'McDonald Twins'.

Fellow Kingsway pupil Nicholas Cochrane was selected out of the class to become Andy McDonald, and a search was on for another class member who had the same height, build and hair colouring as him.

As Gregory was the only member of the class to fit these criteria, he was selected and the two were sent for further auditions at Granada Television, where they were selected for the roles.

Gregory was initially credited under his real name, but later adopted the stage name 'Gregson' once he was old enough to join Equity, as there was already a member with the name Simon Gregory.

Gregson's first appearance in an episode of Coronation Street aired on 6 December 1989 and he currently appears on the soap as a regular cast member.

In 1995, Gregson became known in the press for various traffic offences and problems with alcohol and drugs.

He was written out of the series for over a year after The Sun ran a story in which Gregson allegedly admitted regularly spending £1,000 per month on cocaine.

He returned to his Coronation Street role after rehabilitation.

In October 2022, Gregson broke his leg in six places while at his home.

He said "I've broken my leg. I literally just went over and rolled my ankle, outside the back of the house. It was done in six places."

When Gregson did return to Coronation Street, the storyline had to be adjusted to Gregson's injury.

Gregson announced in November 2022 that he had quit smoking four months earlier and had quit alcohol before that as well.

They have three sons; Alfie (born 2007), Harry (born 2009) and Henry Teddy (born 2016).

In 2009, along with Coronation Street co-star Michelle Keegan, he appeared in the third part of Red Dwarf: Back to Earth as himself.

Gregson has been married to long-term partner Emma Gleave since 2010.

On 20 August 2011, he appeared on All Star Family Fortunes along with his family.

On 7 July 2013, he took part in ITV game show Tipping Point: Lucky Stars.

He appeared as a panellist on an episode of Through the Keyhole which aired on 5 October 2013.

In 2013, he appeared multiple times in the ITV daytime quiz show Show Me the Telly.

He has appeared in an episode of Big Star's Little Star on 23 April 2014.

It was announced on 19 September 2015 that Gregson was to take an extended break from the show for personal reasons.

He returned to the soap in 2016.

He took part in Celebrity Haunted Mansion in February 2018.

He was the series winner.

On 20 February 2021, he took part in the ITV Game show Catchphrase Celebrity special.

In 2021, Gregson participated on the twenty-first series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! and finished in second place.