By Jessica Sansome
Coronation Street star Simon Gregson has revealed which request was turned down by those behind the scenes of the long-running show. It’s been 36 years since the actor first hit the ITV soap’s famous cobbles. He made his debut in 1989 in the role of Steve McDonald, aged just 15-years-old. But it wasn’t Simon’s first choice of career. Speaking on the motoring podcast, Fuelling Around , he discussed how one of his first loves led to him getting into acting. “The reason I went for the job – because I wasn鈥檛 an actor, I wanted to join the RAF originally – the reason I went for it was for money,” he revealed. Get all the latest Corrie gossip and spoilers in our newsletter here “Because I鈥檇 seen a Ford Escort Mexico, in bright orange and I was like 鈥業 want that car, so I鈥檒l go for that job鈥.” Simon has enjoyed cars for as long as he can remember. He said: “My dad鈥檚 always been into cars, you know, growing up, not having a lot of money, he was always having to fix his own cars so, of course, I was always, you know, in my dad鈥檚 shadow, trying to help him. “Basically getting in the way all the time. I just loved the cars.鈥 While starring in the ITV soap, Simon would keep up with car culture and even dabbled in some racing. He shared: “I joined the Goldtrack Driving Club with Callum Locky. “My first introduction into motorsport as it were – it was down at Silverstone with a guy called Colin Waterhouse, who was TVR Tuskan champion. And he taught me to drive in a Ginetta and I fell in love with it.” But if he wanted to take on racing as his career, he’d have had to say goodbye to Corrie. “Actually, I matched the instructor鈥檚 time down at Oulton Park in an MG,” Simon revealed. “I was offered rallying with Seat. I was offered a few things. I had to meet with the boss of insurance for ITV, and he said 鈥楢bsolutely hell no鈥, and that was my possible career in racing gone. I was gutted, it was my lifelong dream.” He then mentioned former Emmerdale star Kelvin Fletcher, who ventured into motor racing before taking on his own farm in Cheshire.”And then of course, Kelvin from Emmerdale, he鈥檚 racing McLaren, Bentley, Porsche鈥” Seimon said. “I was like, ‘That was my dream!'” He was then asked why he thought Kelvin Fletcher, who had also been a guest on the podcast, was allowed when he wasn鈥檛. “He said get lost and left the show. Which is what I should have done, or maybe I shouldn鈥檛, or I wouldn鈥檛 be here now,” Simon laughed. Join our Coronation Street WhatsApp group HERE