All Greg wanted was to get in touch with his real dad. But when your old man turns out to be super-slob Les Battersby, there has to be another reason for hanging around Coronation Street. Well, two actually--Maxine and Sally. While Maxine has the edge in the glamour stakes, it's Sally who's got what Greg really wants--a nice little inheritance from her mother. As she was getting over her fling with mechanic Chris Collins and her husband Kevin's affair with Natalie, Sally was ripe for the picking. But Greg's carefully laid plans could come tumbling down this week as he throws Maxine out of the flat just as Sally arrives with a bottle of wine. To soothe Sally, he agrees to move in with her--but will he?
Stephen Billington hasn't much sympathy for his two-timing character, who's even made an unsuccessful move on new mom Fiona. "Knowing Greg, it's par for the course," says the dishy actor, who was born in Lancashire and spent his childhood in South Africa. "Don't forget that he and Sally became involved after he overheard someone talking about her coming into money. He saw pound signs before his eyes."
The pair got intimate over Mike Baldwin's desk and Greg has suggested that Sally front Mike's lingerie parties so they can have more time together! But Stephen is quick to reject any suggestion there might be an iota of genuine feeling on his part. "Oh no! He doesn't want a romance with her, he just wants the money. Sally is an attractive woman, but that isn't an issue for Greg."
"He likes her, in fact he likes most women and gets on with them. But he can't help using them! This is just another of his master plans. I'm not sure why he wants the money--but he wants it nevertheless."
Meanwhile, Greg has no scruples about deceiving Maxine, who for once isn't pulling the strings in a relationship. "He's kept her on as cover while he makes inroads with Sally. It isn't a case of one or the other!" says Stephen. "Maxine is a pretty girl with a good job and no one would suspect him of cheating."
This week's confrontation will come as a blow to Greg. "Not because Maxine would be hurt but because it would upset the apple cart. But he does have a knack of letting women down gently while making things work for himself." says Stephen. "I'm sure he'd be off like a shot if he gets his hands on the money, though. One day he will end up with egg on his face."
Stephen, who's 28 and single, feels Greg's attitude towards women is fairly typical. "A lot of men find it difficult to settle down before their 30s. They won't get married, commit to kids or even be completely faithful. People talk a lot about the new breed of man but I think the real Nineties man is the one who's frightened of settling down."
"It started in the Eighties when people were encouraged to be selfish. Men who were teenagers at the time saw what was happening and thought, 'I want a bit of that!'"
"On top of that, marriage is not the institution it once was and people don't think they have to settle down. They go out and play the field instead. I'd put myself in that bracket to an extent, but ultimately, I'm looking for someone who I can spend the rest of my life with."
Stephen, who turned to acting after training in hotel management, says he'd never use a relationship to line his pockets. "I've never been out with anyone wealthy and it would put me off. I'd hate for someone to think that might be the reason I was seeing them. Relationships are about what you can offer each other and how you can support one another."
While he exploits women on screen, Stephen knows what it's like to be on the receiving end. "Although I've never been used, I got a letter from the sister of a guy I know. About two years ago I chatted her up, only to be given short shrift. But now I'm in Coronation Street she's written to say she'd like us to get together. I thought, 'You cheeky cow!' I haven't written back to her."
| - THE STEPHEN FILE - |
| Birthday 10 December 1969 |
| Image Battersby with brains--and cheekbones. Bit of a mystery man. |
| Lost his virginity At 16 when he was seduced in real life by an older woman while working in a Bournemouth hotel. |
| Embarrassing nickname Bonio, from his skinny teenage years. |
| Scariest moment Coming face to face with a black cobra while fishing in South Africa. |
| Major achievement Swimming for England as a junior. |
| Look out for him in Mel Gibson's Braveheart. |
| Big break Playing tennis coach and stud Lysander in Jilly Cooper's The Man Who Made Husbands Jealous last year. |
| Best accolade A letter from Kathleen Turner praising his snogging skills after they'd appeared on stage together. |
| Ideal woman "Natural looks, strong, intelligent and romantic." |
| Dream scene Making love to Susan Sarandon--"She's a great actress and very sexy." |
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