![Television programme: Coronation Street, with Hayley Tamaddon as Andrea, Kym Marsh as Michelle Connor and Criag Charles as cajole Lloyd Mullaney. FROM ITV STRICT EMBARGO -TV Listings Magazines & websites Tuesday 10 March 2015, Newspapers Saturday 14 March 2015 Coronation Street - Ep 8599 Wednesday 18 March 2015 Andrea [HAYLEY TAMADDON] and Michelle Connor [KYM MARSH] cajole Lloyd Mullaney [CRIAG CHARLES] into taking Steve McDonald [SIMON GREGSON] to a northern soul night but it s clear the old mates are awkward in each other s company and making excuses, Steve bails out. Picture contact: david.crook@itv.com on 0161 952 6214 Photographer - Mark Bruce This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Plc Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website www.itvpictures.com](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/AD_161901219-40b8.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&zoom=1&resize=644%2C459)
Coronation Street star Simon Gregson bravely opened up about his mental health during his time on the ITV programme.
A soap star since he joined cobbles at the age of just 15 in 1989 to play stalwart and fan favourite Steve, he was forced to adjust to fame very quickly.
Having previously shared that he experienced anxiety growing up, this also led to periods of depression for the I’m A Celebrity star, who realised he needed help when his children started to notice something was wrong.
Speaking to YouTube channel Deep, Simon frankly spoke about the toll being famous had on his mental health, and while the show now prepares younger stars for what they’re about to face in the spotlight, back when he joined 35 years ago, that wasn’t a thing.
‘We were kind of dropped in the middle of the ocean at fifteen and left to swim to shore. It had a massive impact on my mental health, looking back,’ he said.
‘It makes me very upset, for the only reason that I’ve got kids the same age now, and the thought of them going through what I went through is horrible. It’s not nice.’
Simon previously spoke about his anxiety battle last year, and explained how he was initially diagnosed and then how Coronation Street stepped up to help.
‘I went to go and see the GP and then ITV brought a doctor in,’ he recalled.
Host Lorraine Kelly, then chimed in: ‘I was going to say that about Corrie, because Corrie’s your second family?’
The actor confirmed that they were ‘brilliant’ and ‘supportive’ of him.
‘They got this amazing doctor who works with the Royal Navy and the Royal Family and he was lovely.
‘And he went, “Six months off. This is crazy,”’ Simon shared.
‘So I got myself a therapist, who’s now one of my closest friends, saw a psychiatrist – and I hit the gym and I ate properly.’
‘As was getting better, I found the subject fascinating, how the brain works and how it’s linked to your stomach,’ he added.
