<P> Steven James "Steve" McDonald is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, played by Simon Gregson . The character first appeared on - screen during the episode airing on 6 December 1989 . He arrived as part of the McDonald family introduced by producer Mervyn Watson along with his twin brother Andy (Nicholas Cochrane) and parents Liz (Beverley Callard) and Jim McDonald (Charles Lawson). For the first year on the Street, the character was credited by the actor's real surname Gregory, before changing to Gregson from early 1991 onwards . </P> <P> Steve's storylines include his many marriages to Vicky Arden (Chloe Newsome), Karen Phillips (Suranne Jones) twice, Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly), Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) and Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh), as well as Tracy giving birth to his daughter Amy (Elle Mulvaney) and also depression . In September 2015 Gregson announced a break due to personal reasons, and Steve was off - screen from November 2015 to 22 April 2016 . </P> <P> Steve arrived in Coronation Street at the age of 15 in December 1989, with twin brother Andy (Nicholas Cochrane) and parents Jim (Charles Lawson) and Liz (Beverley Callard). From the start, the lads were high - energy tearaways initially causing aggravation for Alf Roberts (Bryan Mosley). Steve and Andy got up to a lot of mischief, including a joyride in an industrial earth mover, breaking Alf's shop window . The lads were brought up mainly by their mother because their father Jim was in the army and away more than he was home . When he was home, the hot tempered Jim, whose tirades were often fuelled by whiskey and beer, had the boys fearing and resenting him . Steve grew up with little respect for his father but a great deal for his mother . It didn't stop him from getting into scrapes, no matter how much it worried his mother . Schoolboy pranks turned into illegal activities when Steve was sure he could pull off a scam or two only to find out that the long arm of the law was only a few steps away . Steve was caught selling stolen car radios, and falling into a bad lot which got his brother, Andy, beaten up . Steve ran away with a teenage love to the Lake District and had to be retrieved and defended against Jim by his mother . The McDonalds didn't have a lot of money and this seemed to fuel Steve's ambitions, always looking for a way to make money . Steve started working with Jim in a building business but Jim was drinking a lot and during an argument and scuffle on scaffolding, Jim fell into a skip and was paralysed for a time . After Jim's recovery, things started to improve between father and son . They seemed to come to an acceptance of each other . In 2000 he had dealings with a local gangster, Jez Quigley . After learning that Quigley killed Tony Horrocks, Steve decides to testify against him in court . After Quigley is found not guilty, he soon plans revenge . He has Steve lured into a car park where he is savagely beaten by several of Quigley's henchmen . After been found by Jim and taken to hospital, Jim takes revenge by beating Quigley . Quigley later dies from his injuries after making another attempt on killing Steve . Jim is sentenced to eight year for manslaughter . Simon Belcher, his half brother who was in the same jail as him at same time was caught red handed with a guard and another inmate and all hell broke lose </P> <P> Steve was married to Karen Phillips (Suranne Jones) twice . During his separation from Karen in 2003, he had a one - night stand with Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford), consequently making her pregnant . Tracy gave birth to their daughter Amy (Holly Bowyer and Rebecca Pike), though she initially was named Patience by Roy Cropper (David Neilson) when he was deceived into believing Amy was his daughter . Tracy later decided she wanted to bring up her daughter herself, and revealed that Steve was the baby's father on Steve and Karen's second wedding day . Karen was horrified but later forgave him . Tracy was persistent in causing disruption for Steve and Karen which continued throughout 2004, until Steve ended his relationship with Karen on Christmas Day, admitting it was getting too much for him . In March 2005, he dated single mother Louise Hazel briefly but the dalliance soon fizzled out partly due to Tracy's presence . For a brief period shortly after, he dated Tracy, intending to get parental responsibility for Amy, rather than having feelings for Tracy . Tracy became aware of Steve's scheme and attempted to prevent Steve having access to Amy . The case went to court where Steve was granted legal rights to see his daughter . </P>

When did the mcdonald's join coronation street