Simon Gregson talks about Steve’s 7th wedding which takes place on Corrie tonight - and whether he can keep his liaison with Leanne a secret.
How has Steve got himself into this predicament?
At first when Steve and Tracy got together although they had known each other for ages it was a whirlwind thing, it was a one night stand and then all of a sudden they were together. His friends Eileen and Tim and even Tracy’s own brother and Dev were asking him what the heck he was doing. It put a load of doubts in his mind, he tried to cash in what he thought was free pass and that made him wonder whether he really did care for Tracy at all if he was prepared to cheat on her. Then he went and got drunk and slept with Leanne again.
What is it with Steve and Leanne?
I don’t know, I think they just have good sex when they are drunk, it is friends with benefits.
Do you think on the day of the wedding that marrying Tracy is what he really wants?
He does yes, sleeping with Leanne confirmed to him that he does love Tracy and when he thought she might find out about Leanne and that he might lose her he realised that he didn’t have doubts any more, she is the woman he wants to marry. Steve does everything the wrong way to get to the right way!
Does he genuinely think he can get away with it?
He genuinely believes that if Leanne keeps her mouth shut then yes he can. Tim would never say anything and even Peter thinks Tracy is a bit bonkers and although he is her brother he has more loyalty to Steve. And Steve has kept secrets for him in the past.
Why does he fall in love so often and so easily?
He needs a bit of drama in his life, I can’t imagine why! He likes the ladies, he likes women and he wants to be with someone. He is attracted to strong women, he likes the challenge and he weirdly enjoys being told off.
Does he just like to accept the role of village idiot and class clown?
He can be extremely sensible but the path he chooses is the one that takes the least effort, if he just lets everyone think he is an idiot then he doesn’t have to work hard at anything and won’t get hassle. His motto is ‘anything for an easy life’ but he has anything other than an easy life because of it! If he used some energy to try and do the right thing then he might not have so many problems and always end up doing the wrong thing. He is basically a beach bum, he should be on a beach somewhere.
Amy is one of the reasons he is getting married to Tracy. Do you think he is a good dad?
He does dote on Amy and on Oliver. I think he is a good dad, he never does anything wong to the children, it is always the mothers that he messes about.
What is it like filming weddings? You are a bit of a past master at it now!
Well this is his seventh wedding but only his fifth wife as he married Karen and Tracy twice. The irony is I hate filming weddings! It is a nightmare as they take days out on location and have a cast of thousands. Fortunately for this one they built the hotel set on site so it made things a bit easier, it was fun to film, as you can imagine it doesn’t go quite to plan.
Do you think he has finally met the woman he should be with?
I think so yes, it does work with Tracy and Steve because she just won’t take any of his nonsense. There is a change in Tracy as well she is settling down so in a very mad way they keep each other sorted, that’s not to say they couldn’t end up killing each other.
Is he a good businessman?
I don't think he is that bad a businessman, he did keep on top of everything at the Rovers and he has had many business partners at the cab firm and it keeps on going. He is never going to be a millionaire but he’s doing ok. It is the women in his life that cause him the problems. Imagine what he could achieve if he didn’t have all the issues with the women in his life.
Do you like Steve? Are you anything like him?
Yes I think I would get on with him, I think I’d need a couple of beers to go out with him though! I don’t know anybody like him but maybe there are aspects of me, his sense of humour a little bit, but his is a toned down version of my sense of humour, you wouldn’t get away with the things that make me laugh at the time Corrie goes out! The daftness and the happy go lucky side of me is what I interjected into Steve. Much like Steve I also like anything for an easy life and I do tend to mess around on set and make people laugh.
Did you think almost 3 years ago when you went to that first audition at school that you would still be here now?
No I don’t know what I would have said if I had walked in and they said ok this is an audition for the next 30 years of your life. The job has flipped my life upside down but it has also provided a very nice life, it has taken me a long time to get grounded but I guess if they had shown me what was to come I would still have taken the job. It doesn’t feel like 30 years, if someone said it has been 15 years I’d think yes that sounds about right.
What are your favourite times on the show?
The thing for me the dafter it is and the more silly it is the better a day at work it is for me. The crew get on board with it and the atmosphere is great. So Steve and Lloyd’s scenes were great to do. Craig is a fantastic comedy actor but he would let me run with it and was happy to play the straight man and we slotted into that very easily. Now it has taken on a different type of dynamic with Joe Duttine, as Tim and Steve are both as daft as each other. I always look at Tim and Steve and think they should be in shorts with a conker each and getting up to no good, so I love working with him aswell. I also love working with Chris Gascoyne and Ben Price, before now Ben has had to have a toothpick to stick in his hand to stop him laughing in a scene.
Have you enjoyed the recent scenes with Charlie and Bev?
I love working with Bev, we have a such a great time. With Steve and Liz there is always that air of comedy and as Charlie has got older he has got worse, and once Bev starts laughing she can’t stop. Charlie is always about making me laugh but I tell him I have learned from the master so I can get him back.
How will Steve feel when he finds out about Hannah and Jim’s deception?
Steve won’t be surprised about Hannah’s part in it he always thought there was something dodgy going on, he doesn’t trust anything that Jim says. The DNA results threw him a bit but he won’t be shocked that it was all a con. He will be sad for Liz that this has happened and that Jim was involved.
Could you imagine being here with Steve on his 10th wedding in twenty years time?
Yes I can’t see why not, the first 30 years have gone in a flash so I would be very happy to stay and see Steve through to old age!
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