Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Simon Gregson has previewed an emotional struggle for Steve McDonald and Tracy Barlow in upcoming Coronation Street episodes.
Tracy (Kate Ford) will risk her marriage by calling off the sale of Steve's Street Cars and her business Preston's Petals florist shop because she doesn't want to put their future at risk.
Steve (Gregson) has been siding with Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) in wanting to mount a potentially-costly legal challenge over their son Oliver's wellbeing.
Speaking out about the difficulties facing the family, Gregson has admitted that Steve is very conflicted over the right path for his young son.
"He's in two minds, he's believing what the doctors are saying but then he's hoping against hope that there is still a chance," he said. "But Leanne won't take it on board at all and Steve is allowing himself to be persuaded by Leanne really because he wants to believe there's still hope."
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Gregson went on: "They want to do everything they can but they're not prepared at all financially because it's a ridiculous amount of money but they're determined to do anything they can and go to any lengths to give Oliver a chance.
"Steve offers to sell his businesses to raise money, Nick tries to sell his share of the factory, the whole family is pulling together, even Tracy agrees to sell the florists."
Despite all of their problems in the past, the actor insisted that Steve becomes "unified" with Leanne and Nick in wanting to find a way to help Oliver.
"At the end of the day although he's seeing it from a much more logical point of view, and has resigned himself to the fact that these are the experts and they're probably right, this is his son and he'd die for him so he's letting himself go down the path that Leanne's going down because any hope is better than no hope," he explained.
The actor went on to assess Steve and Leanne's current relationship: "There was always some issue and something to argue about so things have changed dramatically. I think Leanne is seeing that Steve will do anything for Oliver. Whether she knew how much he loved him at the beginning I don't know but she sure knows now."
Viewers are also seeing a softer side of Tracy Barlow, one of the most popular villains in the history of the ITV soap.
"I have been surprised by how nice Tracy can be but then one thing we do know about Tracy is that she loves her daughter," Gregson said. "They share a daughter in Amy so I think she can put herself in Steve's shoes, she gets that emotion. Deep down there is some warmth in there and I think this storyline has brought it out."
However, Tracy's decision to take the doctor's advice and back out of selling the family's businesses could put her on shaky ground with Steve.
"Initially, it's a kick in the teeth and he can't believe she's done it but deep down sadly he knows that Tracy's right and that's tough," Gregson admitted. "But any hope is better than no hope and he's trying to cling on to that and this feels like she's trying to snatch that tiny thread of hope away."
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.
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