Simon Gregson becomes a dad for the third time

Coronation Street's Simon Gregson will be spending Christmas with his new son after wife Emma Gleave gave birth yesterday - and he's not the only soap star announcing happy baby news!

Simon, who has played Rovers Return pub landlord Steve McDonald since 1989, welcomed a 'beautiful' third son this week - he already has seven-year-old Alfie and five-year-old Harry.

He tweeted the lovely news to his 189k Twitter followers shortly after the birth, saying; 'After talking 2 a belly for 9 months, I can now talk to a beautiful little face & know it's not Mr Hanky.'

The 40-year-old dad also took time to thank the staff at Wythenshawe hospital, Manchester, where the baby was born.

He tweeted; 'I can not praise and thank everyone at Wythenshawe hospital enough, although unbelievably busy, brilliant and lovely. The best x'

They replied almost instantly wishing the actor a happy Christmas with his new son.

It was previously reported on 29th November that Emma had gone into labour but Simon dispelled rumours tweeting; 'If my wife's giving birth in hospital who's this pregnant woman I've woke up with at home.'

The couple, who married in 2010, announced the pregnancy earlier this year via social media with a hilarious photo; with 'beer' written on Simon's stomach and 'baby' on his wife's.

Simon, whose on-screen character has been married six-times and most recently to Kym Marsh's character Michelle, has been on a break from filming since September.

Simon with his on-screen bride

Illness forced Simon to focus on his home-life and he hasn't returned to the cobbles since a dramatic depression storyline that 'had a big impact on him' and won him an award for Best Continuing Drama Storyline.

A source told The Sun; 'He put everything into it. It had a big impact on him because it helped to raise awareness of a condition which affects thousands of people.'

In August 2011, Simon appeared on an episode of All Star Family Fortunes with his brood.