Merry Mcdonalds

The Mcdonalds of Coronation Street are looking forward to their first Christmas as a proper family – so we thought it would be fun to bring them all together for a dress rehearsal…

he Mcdonalds gained a new member earlier this year, when Steve found out that Emma was his daughter! So as the pair prepare to spend their first Christmas together – along with Steve’s wife Tracy and their daughter Amy – we assembled them all for their first photo shoot as a new family. And we found out that Simon Gregson (Steve) and Kate Ford (Tracy) really are just like an old married couple…

Hi guys! How would you sum up Christmas for the Mcdonalds this year? Would you like to spend it with them?

Simon Well, they just row, don’t they? We’d probably go round for our dinner at the Mcdonalds, and as soon as we’d had the food, we’d leave!

Kate The Barlows are better!

Simon [Points to Kate] Well, this year, it’s her moaning as usual.

Kate I think Tracy just wants an excuse to have a go, as she’s really bored. They’re bored of each other, aren’t they?

Simon Yeah, any excuse to kick off! They’re better when they’re kicking off, though. They have a lot of make-up sex.

Kate We’ve decided that’s the main thing that keeps them together.

You have a lovely rapport in real life, so you both must enjoy working together?

Kate I think I might drive him mad! Do I drive you mad?

Simon Yeah! But that’s why it’s like a real marriage.

Kate I do love him. Most people would be like, “She’s a nightmare”! But Simon is so patient with me.

We hear that Simon can be a bit of a practical joker on set…

Simon [Grins] Earlier this year, I was in a joke shop in Blackpool, and I saw this massive false willy that I put on for one of Steve’s scenes with Tim and Dev in the hot tub.

Kate Was it just hanging out of your shorts?

Simon I just took my dressing gown off, and there it was! So yeah, we do stuff like that!

How does your real-life Christmas compare to your telly festivities?

Simon Oh, well, our Christmas is going to be manic. We’re having our house done up at the moment, so we’re living with my in-laws. There’s me, my wife, three kids and two dogs, and we’re all in the loft! It’s small. I love my in-laws and we get on like a house on fire, but it’s going to be mad.

Kate I think mine is going to be really calm, as we’re going to go out, which I’ve never really done before. I’m taking my mum and dad somewhere posh in London, and then we’ll go back and have a drink with some friends. Also, because Otis [Kate’s son] is older now, it’s a different kind of day compared with when he was younger.

Simon I have three boys, so my entire Christmas is made up of at least a week of trying to get into the packaging of the presents, and then going out to buy batteries! And then it’s like, “Daddy, it’s not working!” and “Daddy, can you put this together?” I’m just Bob the Builder every year in my house!

What has it been like having Alexandra (Mardell, who plays Emma) in the mix? And how do you get on with Elle Mulvaney (aka Amy)?

Simon Horrible! [Laughs]

I do love Simon – he’s so patient with me. Most people would be like, ‘She’s a nightmare’!