Coronation Street icon Simon Gregson fed up of being on soap – after mum makes mistake
Simon Gregson’s mum has even called him by his character Steve’s name by mistake(Image: ITV)
Fed-up soap star Simon Gregson has been in Coronation Street so long even his mum has mistakenly called him ‘Steve’.
The actor has played Steve McDonald on the cobbles since 1989 – when he was just 15 – and gets called by his screen name by punters in public.
Simon, 50, moaned: “I got called Steve by my mum once at home. I mean, it was a genuine mistake. She went, ‘I’ve been talking with Steve all day at work.’ I was like, I know, but it’s the last thing I need at home. Bless my poor mum, it was genuine. But yeah, I get called Steve all the time, all the time.
Simon Gregson has been on Corrie for over three decades(Image: ITV)
“I even get called Steve off people at work I’ve known for 35, 36 years, you know?”
Simon told the Fuelling Around podcast that he has had to get used to it after decades appearing on viewers’ telly sets.
He explained: “Your life is a huge goldfish bowl being in the public eye and what have you, but there’s a strange thing with soaps.
Steve McDonald has been part of some big storylines over the years(Image: ITV)
“A very good friend of mine, John Michie had joined the show and he’d done some fantastic big movies. He’d done all sorts, a very well known face.
“I’m sure he won’t mind me telling this story, he said, ‘If you guys go to London, you won’t get bothered.’
“So I said, ‘Mate, give it about two weeks after your character appears on screen and come back to me.’ “And he went, ‘Oh my God, I’m getting mithered everywhere I go.'”
The character has battled depression and many failed relationships(Image: ITV)
Simon Gregson’s character, Steve, has had a number of big storylines during his decades on the soap including failed relationships with Fiona Middleton (Angela Griffin), Ronnie Clayton (Emma Stansfield) and Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) as well as Tracy giving birth to his daughter, Amy (Elle Mulvaney).
His character has also dealt with depression.