Struggling Coronation Street’s Simon Gregson forced to trade beloved sports car for battered campervan amid cash crisis
CORONATION Street actor Simon Gregson has revealed that he has been forced to give up his beloved motor just months after he was forced to sell his family car in order to pay off mammoth tax bills.
The soap favourite, who is best known for playing Steve McDonald on the ITV soap, shared his sadness at having to flog his beloved BMW Z4 car in a video uploaded to his official YouTube channel.
In the video, Simon tells his followers that it’s ‘with a heavy heart’ that he is selling the Z4 convertible.
The actor then reveals that he has to sell the motor to fund a battered camper van that he has purchased for him and his youngest son to work on together in the hope they can maybe sell it on for a profit.
Simon also reveals how he managed to bag the van – which has a smashed window – for a knocked down price from the soap’s props department after it was used in scenes filmed for the soap earlier this year.
The Sun revealed earlier this year how Simon had been hit by financial misery and was at risk of having to sell his family home to pay off his debts.
His troubles came after he was being forced to repay a missing £252k loan which he had previously taken out after his business went into liquidation owing the tax office and the bank £165k.
He was then hit with huge tax bills amid his money woes.
The soap star’s money woes resulted in him flogging hoovers as well as selling tickets for a £37-a-head curry night.
Earlier this year, he shared his latest cash headache after being quoted sky-high insurance prices for his son’s 2010 VW Polo.
One quote came in at a staggering £7,000 a year, while another wasn’t far behind at £4,000.
Sharing his frustration online, Simon said: “Moaning from sunny Cheshire.”
He explained: “Even the four grand, it’s still miles more than the car is worth. How can the insurance be worth more than the car?”
“I’m not great at Maths, but even I know that does not compute. What is that all about?”
“This country, and car insurance, among other financial things, has gone crazy!”
Fans were quick to weigh in, with one replying: “It’s not about his car. It’s about the risk and potential liability costs if he hits another car or injures someone.”
They added: “A lot sadly is based on age and experience… but you are right, prices are crazy!”
Simon is a self confessed ‘petrol head’ and regularly appearing at car events and even hitting the podcast circuit to share his love of motors.
Simon shares three sons with wife Emma Gleave – Alfie, 19, Henry, 17, and Teddy, 10- with the insurance quote believed to be for one of his teenage boys.
