Coronation Street actor Simon Gregson has quashed speculation about his marriage by sharing a loving birthday tribute to wife Emma on social media.

The 50-year-old soap star posted a selfie of the couple looking content together on Wednesday.

In his Instagram post, Gregson wrote: “Happy birthday to the most beautiful girl ever, period, full stop. No come backs.”

The public declaration comes after months of rumours suggesting the couple had separated.

Speculation intensified when Emma was described as Gregson’s “estranged wife” in company paperwork earlier this year.

The actor, who has portrayed Steve McDonald on the ITV soap since 1989, appeared determined to demonstrate that his marriage remains intact with the affectionate social media post.

Questions about the couple’s relationship status emerged in January when official business records listed Emma as Gregson’s “estranged wife”.

The description prompted the actor to issue a denial through his representatives.

Throughout recent months, both partners were photographed on separate occasions without their wedding bands.

Gregson was seen in Cheshire during March without his ring, whilst Emma was observed shopping at Sainsbury’s without hers on multiple instances.

The absence of their wedding rings fuelled ongoing speculation about potential marital difficulties. These sightings occurred against a backdrop of reported financial pressures facing the long-serving soap actor.

A source close to the couple told The Mirror: “Simon and Emma have not split and are still very much together. Simon has no idea why Emma is listed as his ‘estranged wife’ in financial paperwork.”

The couple wed in 2010 following a five-year courtship and have three sons together: Alfie, aged 17, Harry, 15, and eight-year-old Henry Teddy.

Reports suggest Gregson faces significant financial challenges. Documents indicate he borrowed £250,000 from his production company, with monthly repayments of £1,500 required.

The actor and his wife have a three-year deadline to settle the debt. Failure to meet this obligation could result in the sale of their family property, according to reports.

Financial records show: “The Director had an overdrawn loan account of £252,824. The analysis also revealed that this money was removed from the Company’s bank account and paid into Mr Gregory’s joint bank account with his estranged wife. Therefore, any claim would be addressed to both individuals.”

Gregson’s production company was dissolved in 2023 with debts of £165,000 owed to HMRC and Coutts bank, including a pandemic-related bounce-back loan.

The actor has been candid about experiencing anxiety and panic attacks since 1990. During an appearance on Loose Women earlier this year, he revealed his mental health challenges had intensified around 2015.

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“It just hits you like a ton of bricks and it just makes you completely incapacitated,” he explained during the television interview.

Gregson expressed concern about the impact on his children, saying: “But then when I had children, and they were noticing it and they started talking that they’re getting anxious, I thought ‘Oh I’ve passed it on, it’s like a cold I’ve given them.'”