Real life of Coronation Street's Steve McDonald actor Simon Gregson - 'twin', actress wife, crippling health battle and haunted home

Coronation Street fans have been left saddened to see Steve McDonald's marriage to Tracy Barlow go up in smoke. The ITV soap character has had a string of failed romances over the years.

His storylines have revolved around his romances over the years including with Vicky Arden, Fiona Middleton, Karen Phillips, Ronnie Clayton, Becky Granger, Tracy, Michelle Connor and Leanne Battersby, as well as Tracy giving birth to his daughter Amy, his battle with depression and the tragic loss of his two sons, Ruairi with Michelle and Oliver with Leanne.

Steve first hit the Corrie cobbles more than 30 years ago in 1989, played by Simon Gregson. The former tearaway has had his fair share of dodgy dealings but has become more of a comedic character over the years. His misjudgments could also explain why he's remarried so many times on the soap - having got hitched seven times to five different women - some of whom mentioned above.

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Now, he's facing the single life once more after Tracy cheated on him with his footballing hero Tommy Orpington. After Tim Metcalfe discovered the affair, he threatened to tell Steve if she didn't. When she didn't confess all to her husband, Tim did and Steve was heartbroken when he confronted Tracy and she said she didn't want them to be together any more.

But Simon's real life is very different from his fictional alter ego. The actor attended The Kingsway School in Stockport, where he was scouted for the role of Steve. His first appearance in Corrie aired on December 6, 1989, when he was just 15-years-old alongside on-screen twin