Simon Gregson has quit cigarettes and alcohol just months after a boozy bust up at the Grand National.
The Coronation Street actor, 48, has told how he hasn't smoked for the past four months, and hasn't drunk for even longer, because he wants to set an example to his three sons, Alfie, 15, Harry, 13, and Henry, six, who he shares with wife Emma Gleave.
He said: "I used to smoke, but I haven't smoked for four months and I haven't drank for longer.
"I used to sit there with a glass of wine and a fag and be like that [to his children], 'Don't ever drink and smoke.' So I was like, 'I'm going to have to lead by example here.' "
It comes after Simon was quizzed in the back of a police van in April after a bust-up in a Toby Carvery pub opposite the Grand National racecourse at Aintree, Merseyside.
Simon – who has played Steve McDonald in the ITV soap since 1989 – had been enjoying hospitality with other celebrities at Aintree Ladies Day on Friday April 8th, and was photographed drinking Guinness in one of the famous course’s luxury suites earlier in the day.
Police confirmed at the time they were investigating a reported "altercation" between two men at The Rocking Horse, a Toby Carvery.
A source told the Sunday Mirror at the time: "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."
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 that 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."
But later that month it was revealed the police investigation had been dropped.
Simon has also told in a new interview how he recently broke his leg in six places, and it has had to be written into his Corrie scenes.
He said: "I've broken my leg. I literally just went over and rolled my ankle, outside the back of the house. It was done in six places.
"I'm able to drive now, but walking across wet fields is a no for me. Because if I slip it's back to square one."
Asked if Corrie had to write his broken leg into the script, he said: "Yeah, they've written it in. They just kind of spoke about it. It's like when Bobby Ewing woke up in the shower [in Dallas]. No one cares after about five minutes."
Simon also admitted his boys have never watched him on Corrie.
Quizzed on whether his sons would ever watch the soap, he told the Parenting Hell podcast: "No, I don't think they ever have.
"They're not interested in it at all. It [his fame] annoys them actually."
