Simon Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street and was played by Alex Bain between 2008 and 2024.

Peter is awarded custody of Simon when Lucy dies from ovarian cancer in October 2008 and they move in with Ken, his wife Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride) and her mother Blanche Hunt (Maggie Jones).

Peter's drinking problem becomes evident when he comes to Simon's Nativity play drunk and has a row with teaching staff in December 2008.

Luke Strong (Craig Kelly) and Tony Gordon (Gray O'Brien) break the door down after Deirdre alerts them, having received a telephone call from Simon before he passed out due to smoke inhalation.

Learning that he has a grandson, Peter is surprised to meet Lucy's father, George Wilson (Anthony Valentine) in November 2009.

Simon does not tell anyone and feels guilty over the incident, while Aadi's parents Dev (Jimmi Harkishin) and Sunita Alahan (Shobna Gulati) accuse Claire Peacock (Julia Haworth) of negligence.

The results of the destruction bring down a power line (plunging the street into darkness in the process), destroy the post box, and set No.13 on fire.

Just before Christmas 2011, Peter begins a clandestine affair with Carla Connor (Alison King), and Simon is devastated when Leanne, learning the truth, leaves the Street in February 2012.

Simon gives Carla a frosty reception when she moves in, insisting that he wants Leanne back and spends as much time as he can at Ken and Deirdre's house.

In August 2013, Simon is upset when Peter and Carla tell him that Nick is in hospital, after a car accident that leaves him in a coma with brain injuries.

After Nick is discharged from hospital, he gets confused and picks Simon up from school early, without anyone knowing, and shouts at him whilst helping him with his homework.

Simon befriends Faye Windass (Ellie Leach) and Grace Piper (Ella-Grace Gregoire), and they get him to shoplift at Dev’s shop.

In June 2014, Carla's brother, Rob Donovan (Marc Baylis), confronts Tina and attacks her in her own home, leading to an argument on the balcony of her flat.

Maddie Heath (Amy James-Kelly) begins to babysit Simon and he also shares a bond with Deirdre's dog, Eccles.

After the explosion at Victoria Court in May 2015, Simon is unaware that Leanne's partner, Kal Nazir (Jimi Mistry), has died after saving Amy from the fire.

Another row leads to a physical altercation on both sides, Leanne pushes Simon away in self-defence, unfortunately, he cuts his arm as he falls to the ground.

When Simon returns in November 2015, his behaviour hasn't improved and he tells Eva about his time in Portsmouth and that Peter was too busy with his girlfriend.

In January 2017, Peter leaves cigarettes at Leanne's flat and Toyah attempts to take the blame, but Simon is forced to cover for her.

Peter allows Simon to go to a party, but his family struggle to get hold of him and he is returned home by the police after the group split and his phone died.

Summer is found unconscious by Amy and Simon and is taken to hospital, where it turns out she smoked spice and Billy and Todd make amends.

In January 2018, Simon tricks Leanne, Eva, and Toyah into giving him money for false reasons to buy headphones to block out the noise made by them all.

In March 2018, he hangs around with a group of boys and they mug Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls), who is pushed to the floor by gang member Tyler Jefferies (Will Barnett) and is rushed to hospital.

When everyone finds out about the suicide of Susie's father Aidan Connor (Shayne Ward), Peter tells Simon about opening up to people, which a tearful Eva overhears.

When a pregnant Sinead Tinker becomes ill, Carla takes her to her husband and Ken’s son Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard), leaving Simon unattended.

His colleague Jacob Hay (Jack James Ryan) grooms him into drug dealing by allowing him to believe that he owed him £2000 after he staged a robbery.

He tries to make contact with Simon by calling him, meanwhile Sharon Gaskell (Tracie Bennett) arrives back to the street, and it is revealed that she is Harvey’s aunt, Sharon begins befriending Sam, and after informing Sam that Simon’s father is receiving a transplant, she convinces him to phone Nick to inform him of the news.

"[2] Jane Danson, who plays Leanne Tilsley, said of the storyline in September 2015 that she had doubts when she heard about the domestic abuse plot "It's quite interesting.

[6] The same article pointed out that Simon "has learned to be resourceful...he has survived a fire, a kidnapping, and has gone missing in Blackpool – from where he managed to make his way back to Weatherfield."

"[6] When the character of Simon ran away while in Blackpool and later returned on his own to his father Peter's doorstep, he said "Ah've been on two trains and a bendy bus...Nightmare.

An article published to The Independent opined that it was "a line that sums up the sweet-and-sour storylines that have kept Coronation Street going for nigh on half a century: 50 years of chocolate milk and nightmares".