Steven McBride is the boyfriend (and later husband) of Fiona Gallagher. He appears in the very first episode, before leaving in Series 2.
Steve is often presented as the moral hero of the show. Although a car thief, he proudly claims to have not committed a single violent crime in his life. He is often vocal about Frank's mistreatment of his kids, even going so far as to send him to France, drunk and drugged up after witnessing Frank headbutt his son Ian.
Steve had a casual friendship with Fiona's neighbour, Kevin Ball, although they sometimes got on each other's nerves. Kev would often address Steve as "Posh it's lit YEE YEE Lad".
Steve had a close rapport with Fiona's siblings. He would trade anecdotes and cheeky banter with Lip and he would display a protective and nurturing side with the younger children like Debbie, and was very tolerant of a then three year old Liam, who would sometimes sneak into the same bed as him and Fiona.
Steve is from a family of medical professionals. He was set to follow the same career path before quitting medical school after two years of study. He once told Fiona that his family was the "medical equivalent of a battery farm".
Series 1[]
He was first seen in a club, watching Fiona dance with her friend Veronica Fisher. When a mugger stole Fiona's bag, Steve gave chase and attempted to catch him. Although he failed, Fiona still took him home. Once back at their house, he admitted (while undoing his trousers) that he had noticed her a month before, and that if she wanted him to stop, he would. She did not, and they went on to have sex. Steve later bought Fiona a washing machine to woo her, and they got together, after Steve revealed he stole cars for a living.[1]
When Fiona's father, Frank, hit his son Ian, Steve got him drunk and took him to Toronto in Canada (US Version) France (UK Version) in the trunk of his car.[2]
Steve buys the house next door to the Gallagher's at 4 Windsor Gardens which had previously been empty and burnt down for himself and Fiona. Along with Kevin Ball they interfere with the boiler causing the house to burn down again so that they can get the insurance.[3]
Series 2[]
The rest of the Gallagher children discover how Steve makes his money when they narrowly escape police attention while in a car that Steve has stolen.[4]
Fiona discovers that he has a daughter named Kerry-Anne from a relationship in his youth, though he told Fiona that Kerry-Anne isn't even aware that he is her father as his brother is now with the child's mother and they are raising her as their own. He proposes to Fiona, who accepts.[5]
In the middle of the second series he was forced to flee the Chatsworth Estate after he was involved in an accidental killing at a drugs deal he was involved in. He flees the estate alone, with assistance from Tony and Stan Waterman (who are partly responsible for the killing after a failed police raid at the deal), after Fiona refused to leave her siblings (all of whom refused to go with them).[6]
However, in the finale of Series 2 he returned for Fiona. After failing to make contact with Fiona, he turned up at Debbie's school posing as a social worker, asking her to give Fiona an envelope. After Fiona made it clear she was not interested, especially since she was pregnant and with Craig Garland, Debbie turned to Veronica who contacted Steve and got them together.
While surprised that she was pregnant with Craig Garland's baby, he assured her that it did not matter, and that her siblings would be able to cope without her. He then said that once they arrived at their destination, they could get married and that would allow them to get a house together. Fiona then left the Chatsworth estate with Steve.[7]
Marriage[]
In the first episode of Series 8, Steve and Fiona are stated as being married during a scene where Libby Croker was trying to talk Liam out of leaving Chatsworth to visit them in person after receiving the false news of Debbie's death in Afghanistan. In hindsight, it can be construed from this scene that Liam and the other Gallaghers were aware that Fiona and Steve had returned to the UK, when it was not made clear to the audience at the time.
Amsterdam[]
He initially resides in Amsterdam with Fiona, however by Series 11 they are living in Cornwall (as stated by actress Anne Marie Duff in an interview on the Channel 4 website).[8]
Series 11 (Fiona's return)[]
Fiona returns to the Chatsworth estate without Steve in the final episode of series 11, but it is mentioned that they are still together when she mentions to Kev that she needs to speak to Steve about taking Stella Gallagher and Ben Gallagher to live with them. Fiona also mentions to Frank that she and Steve have a son.[9]
Notes[]
- Steve's full address before moving in with Fiona is: 62 Whalley Lane, Manchester, M14 2KN.
- Steve's entire family, both parents, brother and sister, are all medical professionals. Steve was himself studying to become a doctor, but decided to abandon this career-path before he met Fiona. Of all his family, only Steve's brother was seen so far, as he was the husband of Steve's ex-girlfriend and the step-father of his daughter, Kerry-Anne.
Behind the Scenes[]
- James McAvoy who played Steve was married to Anne-Marie Duff who played his onscreen girlfriend Fiona Gallagher. The couple married on 18 October 2006 and have one child together. In 2016, it was announced that McAvoy and Duff were separated and filed for divorce.