Simon Alan Gregory, better known by his stage name, Simon Gregson, is an English actor known for his portrayal of Steve McDonald in the ITVsoap operaCoronation Street since 1989. He has received 17 Awards for comedy and performance, plus a Legends of Industry Award. He is a patron for Scotty's Little Soldiers.
Early life
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.
''Coronation Street''
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. It was announced on He returned to the soap in 2016.
Guest appearances
In 2009, along with Coronation Street co-star Michelle Keegan, he appeared in the third part of ' as himself. 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 '. 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. He took part in Celebrity Haunted Mansion in February 2018. He was the series winner.
2011 – British Soap Award for Best On-Screen Partnership, alongside Katherine Kelly
2011 – TV Quick Award for Best Soap Actor
2019 – British Soap Award for Best On-Screen Partnership, alongside Kate Ford
Won
2009 – TV Quick Award for Best Soap Actor
2014 – British Soap Award for Best Comedy Performance
2017 – Legends of Industry Award for Television Acting
Personal life
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 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. Gregson has been married to long-term partner Emma Gleave since 2010. They have three sons; Alfie, Harry, and Henry Teddy.
