Coronation Street star Simon Gregson has shared the 'real reason' why he went for the job of Steve McDonald on the soap.
The actor has been a staple of the ITV show for 36 years, though admitted in a recent interview that he initially auditioned in the late 1980s to get some money for a car he wanted.
"The reason I went for the job – because I wasn't an actor, I wanted to join the RAF originally – the reason I went for it was for money, because the hope that I'd get it to get some money," he told the Fuelling Around podcast.
"I'd seen a Ford Escort Mexico, in bright orange and I was like 'I want that car, so I'll go for that job'. I might be able to put something towards it!"
The star further admitted: "I couldn't afford to buy it now, even if there was another one for sale. It was four grand in 1989 – that was a lot of money then."
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While Simon has been busy on Corrie for three and a half decades, last year he launched a new side project with a YouTube channel to showcase "various different content" – including his love of cars.
"So my analogue brain is gonna try and do a YouTube channel with various different content," he explained to fans.
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"Car stuff, life stuff and spooky ghost stuff so check out @simongregorydad on YouTube and I’ll keep making stuff for you to like or fall asleep to. Either way, it could come in useful."
In other Corrie news, the show and fellow ITV soap Emmerdale have started dropping new episodes on YouTube at the same time as ITVX in line with their 7am release strategy.
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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