Bosses at Coronation Street have reportedly given Simon Gregson a warning in an emergency meeting over his recent behaviour.
The actor, who plays Steve McDonald in the ITV soap, was quizzed in the back of a police van last Friday after a bust-up in a Toby Carvery pub opposite the Grand National racecourse. The 47-year-old had been photographed drinking Guinness in one of the famous course’s luxury suites earlier that day, the Mirror reports.
The incident came just days after it emerged Simon was reportedly asked to leave a club at co-star Alexandra Mardell’s leaving do when he took his shirt off and danced on furniture, then hurled abuse at staff, the paper said. Now Coronation Street bosses and producers have reportedly called him in to give him a warning after his recent behaviour.
READ MORE: Coronation Street's Simon Gregson pictured catching a lift to his car after Aintree bust-up
"Simon is one of Corrie’s longest-serving stars and is loved on set, but that doesn’t mean he has carte blanche to behave however he likes," a source told The Sun.
"Bosses have told Simon his recent behaviour is not ok and it’s not a good look for the soap. They’ve warned him to clean up his act. Simon apologised and told them he’d be on his best behaviour from now on."
Police confirmed they were investigating a reported 'altercation' between two men inside the Toby Carvery pub The Rocking Horse last Friday. Speaking about Simon, a source told The Mirror: “There was a bust-up and bouncers kicked him out – they pinned him to the ground before the police arrived. He was taken to the police van and spoken to for some time. It was all very messy.”
Hours earlier the much-loved star, who earns £150,000 a year, happily posed for pictures with Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall, 40, and her ex-England rugby captain husband Mike, 43, during his day at the races.
A police spokesman said: "We can confirm Merseyside Police were in attendance at the Rocking Horse pub on Grand National Avenue, Aintree. At around 9.20pm we received a report two men were involved in an altercation inside the pub.
"No injuries were reported and the victim declined to make a formal complaint to police. Inquiries are ongoing.”
Gregson, who grew up in Stockport, first joined the Corrie in 1989. He has played hapless taxi boss Steve for three decades and won a string of gongs. He is said to be worth an estimated £1million.
He has previously told how the pressures of being catapulted to fame as a teen in the ITV soap saw him turn to booze and drugs. The Mirror has reached out to Simon's representatives for comment on this story.
