I’m A Celeb’s Simon Gregson’s real name revealed – and why he had to change it after landing Corrie role by chance

I'M A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here's Simon Gregson was forced to change his name after netting his role in Coronation Street.

Simon landed the part of Steve McDonald in 1989 when he was just 15 and he has played the hapless character ever since.

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The budding actor knew he would be able to join the British Actors' Equity Association - now called Equity - when he was 16, but there was just one snag.

Simon, 47, was born Simon Alan Gregory, however there was already someone registered with that name.

This meant Simon had to give himself a stage name, so he chose to switch his surname to Gregson rather than Gregory.

Meanwhile, the actor also landed his role in Corrie by pure chance.

Producers visited his school in Stockport looking for people to play the teenage twin sons of the McDonald family.

His schoolmate, Nicholas Marc Cochrane, got the role of Andy McDonald and bosses needed someone who looked similar.

They searched for another class member with the same height, build and hair colour, with Simon the only pupil fitting the bill.

Simon has now taken a break from Corrie to try his luck on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!.

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On Thursday night, he joined fellow soap star Adam Woodyatt - who plays Ian Beale in EastEnders - and headed into Gwrych Castle in Wales.

The actors were put to the test immediately.

As their fellow campmates looked on, Simon and Adam visited the Scare Fair, which saw them come face-to-face with a bowl of snakes.

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