Corrie's Simon Gregson suffers 12 panic attacks in a day as soap calls in doctor

07 September 2023 , 11:26

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Corrie's Simon Gregson suffers 12 panic attacks in a day as soap calls in doctor

Coronation Street and I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! star Simon Gregson has opened up on his battle with anxiety as he shared the "debilitating" symptoms he suffered as he discussed his mental health struggle.

Simon, who has played beloved Weatherfield cabbie Steve McDonald for 34 years, joined ITV's Lorraine on Thursday in a candid chat about his anxiety. He told the Scottish presenter he struggled when he was catapulted to fame as a teenager and claimed it was a lot harder to deal with the pressures of fame when he was younger compared to now. Simon praised Coronation Street for subsequently putting in support networks in place for younger members of the cast today.

Speaking about how his anxiety manifested into physical symptoms, he said: "It's an awful disorder. When it was at its worse, my little finger would go completely numb, my face would go numb, I'd get tunnel vision. You can't bring yourself out [from yourself]. You feel dizzy, sick, your heart feels like it's coming out of your chest. It's completely debilitating."

Simon Gregson candidly discussed his mental health struggles (ITV)

The Coronation Street star continued: "It came to a head when I called my boss in the car and told him I couldn't get off the drive. I went to go and see the GP and then ITV brought a doctor in."

Lorraine interjected and said: "Did they? I was going to say that about Corrie they are your second family and have been really supportive," to which the actor agreed: "They have been brilliant. They got this amazing doctor in who works with the Royal Navy and the Royal family and he was lovely. He went, 'Six months off, this is crazy.'"

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Explaining why he has chosen to speak out on his condition, Simon said: "It can happen to anyone in any walk of life. It's completely invisible. My goal is to talk about it and highlight it." The Coronation Street stalwart revealed he ironically struggled to act out a panic attack on screen despite having "10, 11 and 12 panic attacks a day".

Charlotte McIntyre