Simon Gregson and Kym Marsh didn't want their 'Coronation Street' alter egos to have a baby.
Simon Gregson
The 41-year-old actor - who has sons Alfie, nine, Harry, seven, and Henry, eight months, with wife Emma - and his on-screen wife were reluctant to go from their hectic family lives at home to having to care for a small child on set, but are accepting that show bosses wanted to see Steve and Michelle McDonald have a kid together.
Kym - who is mother to David, 21, Emilie, 18, and Polly, five - said: "We hoped it wouldn't happen as we already have young kids at home. But you've got to roll with it. It's another dramatic storyline."
Simon added: "It depends what the baby is like. Some are OK in the studio and some aren't. If we get a chilled one, we're alright."
The plot will also see Leanne Tilsley (Jane Danson) pregnant by Steve, and Simon and Kym are hoping it won't mean the end of their partnership.
Simon said: "We'll be sad if it splits them up because Kym and I have a laugh working together. I'm hoping it'll be like 'Friends' and Ross says, 'We were on a break.' "
Kym added: "Simon and I have been screen partners for about 10 years and we always seem to come back together.
"If it does mark the end, we hope at some point they'll find a way back to each other."
And Simon joked he'll need to put in the hours at the gym so hapless Steve is fit enough to run away from Michelle when she finds out about his fling with Leanne.
He told OK! magazine: "Steve being in trouble is what the scriptwriters like, so I'll have to hit the gym to get fit for all the running.
"Even though it's quite dramatic, there's scope for comedy with the whole thing."
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