Simon Gregson has played Steve McDonald on the ITV soap since 1989, and faced financial woes last year when his business went into liquidation following a huge £100,000 tax bill
Coronation Street legend Simon Gregson has been delighting loyal fans with a surprise secret talent.
The 49-year-old, who has played Steve McDonald on the ITV soap since 1989, is one of the stars on the Coronation Street Experience tours, which take place on the Corrie set in Manchester. While die-hard fans can pay for an exclusive Star Tours experience, which includes a meet-and-greet with one of the cast members for £55, it seems Simon has been joining fans on the tours in a more personal way.
Guests on the set shared snaps of the Corrie icon accompanying them on the guided tour around the custom-built cobbled streets at Trafford Park, and were over the moon to be greeted by none other than Simon. “We did the star tour and met Simon Gregson who was lovely,” one wrote on TripAdvisor, as another called it the “ultimate experience”. One excited fan wrote: “We were thrilled to meet and have pictures with Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald) who was lovely and down to earth.”
Simon has played Steve since 1989, and is now surprising loyal Corrie fans (Image: ITV)
The actor has faced a series of financial woes when his business, Simon Gregson Productions Ltd, was forced into liquidation last year when he was landed with a £100,000 tax bill. A financial report by liquidators revealed that not even selling the furniture in the offices would help to settle the tax bill, as it was worth less than £4,300. “The realisable value is uncertain although due to the age and condition of the equipment it is anticipated any realisations will be minimal,” the report stated.
When his firm ceased trading, it had around £6,000 in the bank. The actor and his wife Emma also borrowed £252,824 from the firm’s company account, and according to The Sun, liquidators were “uncertain” as to whether the amount would be repaid. He also reportedly owes £65,000 to Coutts bank for a loan issued during the Covid pandemic.
He said he signed up for I’m A Celeb to keep him out of financial ‘trouble’ (Image: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Simon briefly touched upon his money woes in 2021, when he appeared on I’m A Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here. Despite finishing as runner-up, the actor reportedly earned a £250,000 fee, and he told Good Morning Britain that he signed up to the hit ITV reality show because “the money is good” and it was “enough to get him out of trouble”.
He was a late entry into the camp at the Welsh castle, and after the show ended, he told GMB host Susanna Reid that the money was too good to turn down. “Emma and the kids have been on for years and years. And the money is good, lets not beat around the bush. Enough to get me out of trouble. It was a solid gold diamond goblet, so that gives you some idea.”
