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Who is 'I'm A Celeb' late arrival Simon Gregson?

Katie Archer
·Contributor
·2-min read
Simon Gregson stars in I'm A Celeb. (ITV)
Simon Gregson stars in I'm A Celeb. (ITV)

The I'm A Celebrity 2021 line-up is finally complete, with soap veterans Simon Gregson and Adam Woodyatt taking up the last two spots in the castle.

Celebrities already taking part in the ITV series will be looking forward to getting to know them a little better over the coming days - but who is Simon Gregson?

Read more: First look at Adam Woodyatt and Simon Gregson's I'm A Celeb trial

Viewers will recognise him as one of the longest-running stars of soap Coronation Street, where he has played Steve McDonald for more than 30 years.

FROM ITV STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Tuesday 26th October 2021 Coronation Street - Ep 10474 Friday 5th November 2021 - 1st Ep Steve McDonald [SIMON GREGSON] tells Emma Brooker [ALEXANDRA MARDELL] that he and Tracy would like to use their personal savings to pay for Curtis to see a private consultant. Picture desk contact - David.crook@itv.com This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Gregson stars in 'Corrie' as Steve McDonald. (ITV)

The 47-year-old's storylines as Steve have included many failed relationships, most notably with Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly), Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford), Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) and Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson).

His daughter with Tracy became a teenage mum at just 14 and he also discovered a secret daughter from a relationship 20 years previously.

Steve and Leanne suffered heartache recently when they lost their young son to Mitochondrial disease.

Beverley Callard led the celebs in a morning workout. (ITV)
Beverley Callard appeared in the last series. (ITV)

Gregson's screen mum Liz was played for many years by Beverley Callard, one of the stars of I'm A Celeb 2020, although he says he hasn't had much advice from her.

The actor said: “I’ve not had a chance to ask Beverley Callard what advice she would give me about going in the castle as she is very busy, but my family have all said: ‘Don’t make an idiot of yourself, don’t not do the trials and don’t let us down Dad’.”

Read more: Susanna Reid sends get well wishes to hospitalised I'm A Celeb star Richard Madeley

Dad-of-three Gregson added that people might not find his real self all that different to his screen alter-ego.

He said: “It’s going to be nice for people to see what I am like without a script for a change. I think people think you are in a huge celebrity bubble when you work on a soap but that is not the case at all.

"It will be nice for them to see me as a normal man but also, there isn’t much difference between the character and myself as I kind of injected myself into the character I play!”

Watch: Adam Woodyatt and Simon Gregson tackle latest I'm A Celeb trial