MONEY WOES Coronation Street’s Simon Gregson faces losing his home and is hit by fresh financial misery as he repays £252k loan
Coronation Street star Simon Gregson is complying with an order to repay a missing £252,000 loan – but is still on course to lose his house.
The actor, who plays Steve McDonald on the ITV soap, faces having to sell his house over the closure of his firm which went into liquidation owing the tax office and a bank £165,000.
Simon triggered a confidential report to the government on his conduct after transferring £252,000 from Simon Gregson Productions Ltd into a private account.
Initially, liquidators said the star said he been told to repay the missing cash at £1,500 per month.
Advising him that after 36 months the balance must be paid from the sale of his house.
But a report into the firm filed this week revealed he’d repaid £18,000 over the last 12 months.
“We have been unable to conclude our duties during this period, in view of the balance outstanding on the Directors loan account. Consequently, the administration of the case will continue into the next period.”
The firm said the costs of breaking up the firm amounted to around £51,000, though a £44,000 cap on its expenses was in place.
The skint star has been earning extra cash as a Coronation Street tour guide.
Cast members pick up £500-a-time showing fans around the soap’s iconic studios.
And Simon – who has been clobbered with a £100,000 tax bill – has joined the roster at the Street’s HQ in Greater Manchester.
The star tours cost £55 per person and fans are told: “What’s even better than going on the Coronation Street Experience guided tour???! It’s our Star Tours of course!
“What a lovely guy Simon Gregson (aka Steve McDonald) was when he joined us last week!
“Were you one of the lucky ones who got to meet him? Have you booked your star tour yet? Who would you be most excited to meet?”
The tour website said of previous cast appearances: “Our most recent Star Tours featured Coronation Street legend, Sally Dynevor, who brilliantly plays the unforgettable Sally Webster and the talented Sam Aston, who brings the loveable Chesney Winter-Brown to life.
“And that’s just the beginning. In previous tours, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting esteemed actors Chris Gascoyne, who portrays the charismatic Peter Barlow, Julia Goulding, the embodiment of Shona Platt, and Andy Whyment who plays “the king of packing” Kirk Sutherland.”
The Sun have contacted Simon’s representatives for a comment.
The actor has been on Coronation Street since 1989, having joined the soap when he was just 15 years old.
Aside from taking a five-month break in 2015, Simon has appeared consistently on the ITV show for the last 37 years.
