Corrie’s Simon Gregson Takes Another Break From Soap Following Five-Month Leave

Most workers would kill for his holidays.

Coronation Street’s Simon Gregson is taking more time off from playing Rovers Return boss Steve McDonald just two weeks after returning from five months’ leave.

The long-serving actor needs surgery on a shoulder dislocated when he fell off a toy scooter.

His earlier absence was described by insiders as “extended paternity leave”.

The 41-year-old’s wife Emma, 32, had their third child Teddy just before last Christmas.

Gregson, above, fell off the scooter over the Easter weekend while playing with his other sons, Alfie, eight, and Harry, six.

Gregson’s previous leave came after he portrayed Steve’s descent into depression. He initially told bosses he would be away for three months but added two months after his child’s birth.

A TV source told The Sun about his latest absence: “This is the last thing he wanted after such a long time away from work. He was looking forward to getting stuck into his storylines again.

“He’s annoyed he needs surgery. But it’s a sore one and he’s going to rest up before heading back to work. Because it’s a shorter spell away it won’t give bosses such a big headache rewriting scenes. But it’s still bad luck.”

It’s thought Gregson, above at a 2002 Corrie New Year’s Eve party, will be forced to take at least two weeks off for the op and will return to the cobbles when a doctor agrees he is ready.

Meanwhile, bosses are having to work filming schedules and storylines around the popular pub landlord’s absence from the soap.

It’s another blow for the show as Beverley Callard, 59 – who plays Steve’s mum Liz – was recently signed off for at least a month after struggling with depression off-screen.

A Coronation Street spokesman told The Sun: “Simon will hopefully be back within a fortnight.”

Pictures Getty Images