| Simon Gregson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Simon Alan Gregory 2 October 1974 Wythenshawe, Manchester, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1989 – Present |
| Spouse | Emma Gleave (m. 2010–present) [1] |
Simon Gregson (born Simon Alan Gregory on 2 October 1974) is an English actor. He is known for being a cast member of the British soap opera Coronation Street in which he has played Steve McDonald since 1989.
Whilst a pupil at The Kingsway School, Gatley, Gregson entered a search for the part of one of two new cast members to join the soap 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. Both were selected as the McDonald Twins, starting their television careers in their teens in 1989, their first episode being aired on 27 October 1989.
A couple of years later, Gregson changed his surname (from Gregory) after he joined the actors union Equity.
In the 1990s, 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 newspaper ran a story in which Gregson allegedly admitted regularly spending £1000 a month on cocaine. He returned to his Coronation Street role after rehabilitation.
In 2009 Gregson, along with Coronation Street co-star Michelle Keegan, starred in the third part of the Red Dwarf: Back to Earth special as himself.
He is now in his 22nd year with Coronation Street. Simon supports Manchester City F.C.
Gregson married his longtime partner Emma Gleave on 13 November 2010. They already had two sons at the time of their marriage.[2]