 He added that Steve and Karen "can't live with each other and can't live without each other".Gregson also remarked that the relationship was "going back to what Coronation Street set out to be" which he felt to be "hen-pecked husbands and very strong women".On 13 May 2004, it was revealed that Suranne Jones had decided to leave "Coronation Street" after four years of playing Karen McDonald.