There is uncertainty surrounding the future of Simon Gregson on Coronation Street after it has been revealed that he has been given indefinite time away from the soap, with fears that he may not return at all.

Simon, 40, plays Rover’s Return pub landlord Steve McDonald and whilst his character fights the day-to-day pressures of suffering depression, it seems that real-life is mimicking the fiction as Simon battles his own illness.

MirrorCeleb has revealed that Simon will be away from the cobbles for an extended period and it is currently unclear whether his character will be written out of the soap completely.

Simon decided to not be a part of the live show, along with several other actors and with producer Stuart Blackburn being replaced by Emmerdale supremo Kate Oates, there has been a promise of a major character shake-up. It has been reported that the storyline about Steve McDonald’s depression had left Simon drained and with his wife Emma expecting their third child, it looks like he will take time himself to get back to feeling one hundred percent.

“He put everything into it. It had a big impact on him because it helped to raise awareness of a condition which affects thousands of a condition which affects thousands of people,” a source told The Sun. “He’s decided to take a bit of time out and has the support of everyone on the show.”

Culled from Entertainment Daily