Coronation Street’s Simon Gregson reveals soap producers called in doctor amid his debilitating 20-year anxiety battle

Coronation Street’s Simon Gregson reveals soap producers called in doctor amid his debilitating 20-year anxiety battle

By Laura Parkin For Mailonline

Updated: 10:49 BST, 7 September 2023

Simon Gregson revealed that Coronation Street producers called in a doctor during his debilitating 20-year anxiety battle. 

The actor, 48, who has played the role of cab driver Steve McDonald since 1989, had to visit a psychiatrist after his mental health led him to believe he was suffering from mystery illnesses for 20 years. 

Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine on Thursday, he explained: ‘In 2015 it came to it’s head and I didn’t know what it was.

‘I had heart scans and brain scans, they thought I had vertigo then we went back to the beginning and my GP figured out that I had an anxiety disorder.

‘I’d get number fingers, tunnel vision, feel sick dizzy. Completely deliberating.’

Mental health: Simon Gregson, 48, revealed that Coronation Street producers called in a doctor during his debilitating 20-year anxiety battle

He continued: ‘It came to a head when I had to ring my boss I was like, “look I’m in my car but I can’t get off the drive.” 

Simon said that the soap’s producers called in a doctor, who has helped the Royal Family and Navy officers, to come to the set and help. 

‘I had six months off I went to the gym. I did a lot of research and I learnt how your brain is connected to the stomach. I retrained my brain not to worry,’ he revealed. 

He added: ‘All the people who come into Corrie now are taken off into a room and they’re told about what will happen, press intrusion, how being famous – for want of a better word – will change your life. 

‘But when we started, there was none of that so we just had to deal with it. And we kind of became massive overnight. 

‘It was the late 80s, early 90s and now I think being on TV or in the public eye is a lot easier.’ 

Speaking about his characters battle with depression, Simon explained how he struggled to act out panic attacks, despite having ’10, 11, 12 a day’ himself.

‘I was like “this couldn’t have come at a worse time” because I’m not feeling well.’

Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine on Thursday, he explained: ‘I had heart scans and brain scans, they thought I had vertigo then we went back to the beginning and my GP figured it out’

The actor added: ‘But when it came to it and my character had to have a panic attack, I couldn’t do it, after having 10 a day. I released it was all psychosomatic.’

Simon , who joined the ITV soap when he was 14-years-old, explained that some of his favourite storylines have been those who highlighted the major issues.

In 2014, he shared his own experience with depression through his character, who battled in secret. 

He revealed that the storyline ‘changed things for him personally’ and that following the major issue being highlighted he had several other men thank him and say it ‘changed their lives’ as they got the help they needed. 

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