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Simon Gregson’s wife takes off her wedding ring as Coronation Street star is seen for first time since denying split
Emma was referred to as his 'estranged wife' in recent documents
SIMON Gregson’s wife was spotted without her wedding ring today – just hours after he denied they had split.
Emma was seen jewellery free and appeared downcast as she arrived at their tea rooms near Wilmslow, Cheshire this morning, amid Simon’s ongoing money woes.
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Simon meanwhile failed to raise a smile as he stepped out in the snow.
The couple were hit with speculation they had broken up after Emma was listed as his ‘estranged’ wife in business documents.
Simon, who plays ladies' man Steve McDonald in the soap, married Emma in 2010 after five years together and they have three sons.
But a source close to the 50-year-old actor confirmed the pair are still going strong.
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“Simon and Emma have not split and are still very much together,” the source said.
“Simon has no idea why Emma is listed as his ‘estranged wife’ in financial paperwork.”
It follows reports that Simon is facing having to sell his family home if he doesn’t pay back a £250,000 loan from his production company.
Praising Emma
Simon has often praised wife Emma, who runs a tea rooms in Cheshire, for her support of his career on TV.
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Last year, the couple revealed that they were set up by one of his soap star colleagues.
“We met 18 years ago in the pub in Eccles owned at the time by Beverley Callard,” Simon revealed.
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Emma added: “I used to go to Bev's pub with my brother Michael and she was running a singing competition called Eccles Factor. Simon was one of the judges and Bev asked me if I liked Simon, 'as he’s single and he likes you'.”
Simon asked Emma out on a date when they ran into each other at a charity event weeks later, and they’ve been together ever since.
Money issues
But in recent years, the couple have been fighting money issues.
Despite Simon’s money spinning I’m A Celebrity appearance and £250k fee in 2021, and a reported £150k a year Corrie salary, the ITV star has been struggling with debt from his media company.
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Simon Gregson Productions Ltd fell on hard times during the pandemic and Simon was forced to sign up to I’m A Celeb to clear the debt.
He later told Good Morning Britain that he did it because "the money is good" and it was "enough to get him out of trouble” comparing the fee to a "solid gold diamond goblet".
But the company went into liquidation on November 9 2023, owing £125,002 to HMRC, £35,000 to Coutts Bank for a Covid loan, and £5,002 trade and expense creditors, totalling £165,004.
Bounce back loans were handed out by the government to help struggling companies make up the shortfall for any dip in revenue because of coronavirus.
In January 2024, Simon offered to sell old furniture from his office to clear part of the debt.
House sale
A newly filed report with Companies House this week has revealed that Simon and wife Emma - who is listed as ‘Mr Gregory’s estranged wife’ in official documents - are planning to sell off their home to clear the debt.
The Mirror states 'it had been agreed that they would sell their family home' if they had not paid back the balance they owe within three years.
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The liquidator’s report also reveals that Simon “withdrew £252,824” from the company’s account and placed it in the then-couple’s joint account - and had now promised to pay back the loan at £1,500 a month.
Referring to Emma as his 'estranged wife', the report reads: "The Director had an overdrawn loan account of £252,824. The analysis also revealed that this money was removed from the Company’s bank account and paid into Mr Gregory’s joint bank account with his estranged wife. Therefore, any claim would be addressed to both individuals."
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