The soap star will appear on Celebrity Deal or No Deal

Simon Gregson will take part in the celebrity edition of Deal or No Deal today. The hit ITV show will see the actor go head-to-head with the infamous Banker with the hopes of taking home a cash prize for his chosen charity. Simon has played the role of Steve McDonald on Coronation Street for over three decades, after joining the soap in 1989.

Steve has been a much-loved character on the soap over the years, known best for his comic side and history of unsuccessful love affairs. The character has been at the centre of the drama on the cobbles after he recently announced his secret relationship to troublemaker Cassie Plummer, played by Claire Sweeney.

Off-screen, Simon’s life is very different to his Coronation Street counterpart. He shares three children with his wife, former Hollyoaks actress Emma Gleave. The two married in 2010 and are proud parents to Alfie, born in 2007, Henry, born in 2009 and Teddy, born in 2016.

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The family of five live in Cheshire. After his appearance on ITV’s reality show I’m A Celeb, Simon revealed the heart-wrenching journey he and his wife experienced to create their family.

On The Likely Dads podcast with Tim Vincent, he revealed that Emma had suffered 11 miscarriages, with one baby girl tragically passing away at 21 weeks.

The actor recently appeared as a special guest on motoring podcast Fuelling Around, where he discussed the sacrifices he has had to make to stay on the Corrie cast.

Simon explained the unique reason why he decided to go into acting in the first place. He said he only applied for the role so he could earn some money to buy a car he had his eyes on.

Simon Gregson has played Steve McDonald on Coronation Street for 36 years(Image: Adrian Flux/Fuelling Around)

Speaking to the motoring podcast, he said: “The reason I went for the job – because I wasn’t an actor, I wanted to join the RAF originally – the reason I went for it was for money.” He explained: “Because I’d seen a Ford Escort Mexico, in bright orange, and I was like ‘I want that car, so I’ll go for that job’.”

Despite landing the iconic role of Steve McDonald, Simon still continued his passion for cars and motor sports, and even dabbled in some racing himself.

He told listeners: “I was just trouncing 911s, TVRs. So I absolutely fell in love with motorsport then. But I wasn’t allowed to do it contractually, you know, classed as a dangerous sport.”

Simon soon learned that had to give up his dream career if he wanted to stay on Coronation Street, even though he proved to have had a clear talent for racing: “Actually, I matched the instructor’s time down at Oulton Park in an MG.

“I was offered rallying with Seat. I was offered a few things. I had to meet with the boss of insurance for ITV, and he said ‘Absolutely hell no’, and that was my possible career in racing gone. I was gutted.”

He also discussed Kelvin Fletcher, who starred in rival soap Emmerdale, who managed to venture into motor racing as well as acting. Simon said: “He said ‘get lost’ and left the show, which is what I should have done, or maybe I shouldn’t, or I wouldn’t be here now.”

Deal or No Deal Celebrity Special with Simon Gregson airs on ITV1 on Sunday at 2:05pm