Coronation Street fans go wild over 'return' of Steve McDonald's raucous ex-wife

04 January 2024 , 13:39

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Steve McDonald misses one of his ex wives more than all the others

Coronation Street fans were left craving the return of Steve McDonald's chaotic ex-wife Karen after he dropped some big hints.

Fiery Karen, played by Suranne Jones, left the street in bits nearly 20 years ago after Steve refused to forgive her for setting fire to a car which he thought his daughter Amy was in the back of. His daughter was a baby back then after cheating on her with Tracy Barlow, who Steve is still with now.

The cabbie, actor Simon Gregson, has been married five times and the subject of his previous romances came up on Wednesday night's episode. Steve - who was also married to Vicky Arden back in 1995 Becky Granger in 2009 and Michelle Connor eight years ago - was chatting about his former flames in the Rovers with Daisy Midgeley.

Karen McDonald and Tracy Barlow were not exactly friends (ITV)

Daisy, now running the boozer with Jenny Connor after getting their hands on Underworld's money, asked the former landlord what he missed most about running the legendary pub. She then quizzed him: "Who was your least favourite punter?" and Steve hilariously replied "Tracy".

Then she wondered: "Which of your four ex wives do you miss the most?" Swiftly, Steve replied: "Karen, next question." The confession left fans dreaming of Karen return to the cobbles but if her comments five years ago are anything to go by all hope is not lost.

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“I don’t have time to keep up with Corrie but I’m friends with Jennie McAlpine and Anthony Cotton so I do catch up," Suranne told The Sun. “But I didn’t know Steve had a baby - that is news to me and I am gobsmacked.” On a possible comeback she said: “If it was for a good cause and we were going to raise a lot of money, I’d ­definitely consider it for Comic Relief," she said.

The actress was just 21 when she joined the cast to Corrie back in 2000 where she played Karen for four years and back in 2020 she claimed she was coerced into taking part in sexy photo shoots early in her acting career. The BAFTA winning star was speaking during a chat on the Give Me Strength podcast.

She said: “The first few months was about me being whisked off and put in a bikini in Barbados... At this time I’d only been on one holiday abroad to Spain with my mates. I was like, ‘Wow’. Then I was on a celeb special for Stars In Their Eyes, then put in a magazine with a bra and knickers on. They'd give you a glass of champagne to get you a little loose I remember thinking it was fun at first but I realised it wasn't what I signed up to.”

airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and X.

Sam Elliott-Gibbs