Steve McDonald in Coronation Street is the much-married recently estranged husband of Tracy Barlow.
Steve’s been in the Street since 1989 and has become a Weather field legend. His friendship with Eileen Grimshaw, his bromance with Tim Metcalfe and his many, many weddings and divorces have made him a firm fan favorite.
He’s got more ex-wives, fiancées and girlfriends than most Weather field residents have had hotpots – and now he seems to have his eye on one-time drug addict Cassie Plummer.
At first glance Steve and Cassie sounds like a disaster, but given Steve’s chequeen romantic history – and his fondness for trouble-makers, could they be a match made in heaven?
When did Steve McDonald arrive in Coronation Street?
Steve arrived in Weatherfield as a troubled teenager with twin brother Andy McDonald and his parents Liz and Jim. He later had a sister called Katie, who died as a baby.
Steve got up to all sorts as a youngster, causing his parents lots of stress. He seemed to be a real chip off the old block, matching his crime-breaking dad Jim for scams and scrapes.
In an attempt to get on the straight and narrow, Steve started his own business but he ended up in prison for a while for handling stolen goods.
But since then he’s settled down – more than once – started Street Cars, run the Rovers, fought depression and grieved the loss of two children.
When did Steve McDonald go to prison?
In 1994, Steve was working for Mike Baldwin at his business MVB Print. When Steve got lucky on the horses, he won enough money to buy Mike out.
But the temptation to keep gambling was too strong, and Steve was soon in debt to loan sharks. Throw in a few bottles of dodgy whisky and Steve was in trouble.
He married wealthy Vicky Arden in an attempt to use her money to pay off his debts, but when Vicky testified against him in court, their marriage broke up. Hmm, being banged up thanks to an ex definitely seems like a bad romantic choice!
Who has Steve been married to?
Vicky was Steve’s first wife, but definitely not his last! Since his teen romance with posh Vicky, Steve’s gone through a lot more wives.
After Vicky, Steve started a relationship with factory worker Karen Phillips.
She had a bet with Janice Battersby that she’d get Steve to propose – which she won – and then that they’d tie the knot. Both Steve and Karen were quite surprised to find themselves saying ‘I do’ but they did make a go of things and their fiery marriage was successful – at first.
They hit a bump when Steve thought Karen was having an affair and they split. While they were apart, Steve slept with Tracy Barlow – more on that later – but then he and Karen got back together and decided to divorce (are you keeping up?) so Karen could have the big wedding of her dreams.
Though they did make it down the aisle, they eventually split, thanks to Steve being revealed as the father of Tracy’s baby, Amy.
After Karen, Steve had a romance with Michelle Connor, but they split when he fell for Becky Granger. He and Becky were made for each other and did – eventually – make it down the aisle.
But he had another brief fling with Tracy Barlow, things got complicated, and that was it.
