😂👩‍👦🎬 Coronation Street Star Reveals: “Even My Mum Called Me By My Character’s Name!”

Being a soap star comes with a unique kind of fame—especially when your character becomes a household name. But for one Coronation Street legend, the line between fiction and reality got hilariously blurry… even at home. In a heartwarming and funny revelation, the long-time cast member recently shared that his own mum used to call him by his on-screen character’s name—proving just how iconic his role had become.

Fans of Corrie know how easily these characters become part of our daily lives. But for this actor, it wasn’t just fans mixing things up—it was family too!

🧡 A Household Name… Literally

The actor in question? None other than Simon Gregson, who has played Steve McDonald on Coronation Street since 1989. With over three decades in the role, it’s no surprise that fans—and even his mum—find it hard to separate Simon from Steve.

In a recent interview, Gregson shared the lighthearted confession:

“My mum used to call me Steve more often than Simon. I don’t even think she noticed she was doing it most of the time!”

He laughed it off, saying it became such a normal part of life that he eventually stopped correcting her.

“If I heard ‘Steve!’ being shouted from the kitchen, I knew dinner was ready—whether it was for me or my character!”

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Fame, Family & Funny Moments

This sweet anecdote reveals something fans often forget: for soap stars, long-term roles can truly become part of their identity. And when you’ve been the same character for more than 30 years, even your loved ones might start to blur the lines.

Gregson went on to explain that his family, especially in the early years of his career, were both proud and amused by his role.

“They were my biggest supporters, but also my biggest jokers. My dad used to say, ‘Don’t let Steve get too big for his boots!’ just to wind me up.”

📺 A Soap Legend

Simon Gregson’s portrayal of Steve McDonald has made him one of the most beloved and recognizable faces on British television. From comedy to heartbreak, betrayal to redemption, Steve has lived through it all on the cobbles of Weatherfield.

Over the years, fans have watched Steve navigate multiple marriages (some to the same woman!), fatherhood, business failures, and countless dramatic plot twists. Yet despite all the chaos, Gregson has managed to keep Steve relatable, charming, and always a little bit daft—in the best way.

That longevity is rare, and it’s what makes the mum-calling-him-by-his-character’s-name story all the more endearing. For many viewers, Steve McDonald is a real person—and apparently, for Gregson’s mum, he was too!

🎤 Fans React: “Honestly, Same!”

Once the story hit fan forums and social media, reactions were immediate and full of affection.

“My nan still calls actors by their Coronation Street names. She’d totally do this too,” one fan commented.

“Imagine being Steve McDonald even at the family dinner table,” another joked.

Many longtime viewers expressed how connected they feel to the characters, often referring to them by name like old friends. In fact, several fans shared similar stories of calling soap stars by their character names when meeting them in real life—and sometimes not realizing it until after!

🔄 Life Imitates Art

Gregson isn’t the only Coronation Street actor to experience this phenomenon. Several cast members over the years have admitted that even close friends and extended family sometimes default to their fictional names.

But Gregson’s easygoing attitude about it shows just how well he’s embraced his role—and how deeply woven Steve McDonald is into British pop culture.

When asked if it ever bothered him, Simon responded with a grin:

“Not at all. Steve’s been good to me. And if Mum wanted to call me Steve, well… I probably deserved it most of the time!”

👏 A Testament to Legacy

Moments like this remind us just how special long-running shows like Coronation Street are. They become part of the fabric of everyday life—not just for viewers, but for the actors and their families too.

Whether you’re shouting at the telly or calling your son by his character’s name, it’s all part of the magic that has made Corrie a beloved institution for over six decades.

And as for Simon Gregson? He’s happy to be “Steve” for as long as fans—and his mum—want him to be.