Colson Smith’s final scenes on Corrie are set to air this week, with the actor having bid farewell to Craig Tinker after making his first debut in the role more than a decade ago
Actor Colson Smith’s final scenes on Coronation Street are coming up this week, with him having recently left the long-running show. His departure from its cast comes 14 years after he made his first appearance on the ITV soap opera.
It was announced back in January that Colson, 26, would be leaving the ITV soap after more than a decade. The cast member, who has played Craig Tinker since 2011, has since filmed his exit and he was celebrated by co-stars at his leaving do in Manchester in March ahead of them airing.
He’s teased over the future and his final scenes on Corrie are set to air this week. Viewers know that Craig could be killed off on the show and spoilers for tonight’s episode confirmed that he will be fighting for his life in hospital.
Police officer Craig was attacked by Mick Michaelis (Joe Layton) when he tried to arrest him on Monday night. He was hit over the head with a baseball bat and left for dead, with there concern that the injury will prove to be fatal.
Craig’s been involved in various storylines over the years and Colson has shared his pride over the role. He said: “I’ve loved every single second of my 14 year stay as a resident on the greatest street in the world. I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up in, on and around Coronation Street.”
Colson made his first appearance as Craig in an episode of Corrie that was broadcast in August 2011. The character was introduced when his mother Beth Tinker (Lisa George) went on a blind date with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson). Beth turned up for the date with Craig, who joined her and Steve.
Having grown up on Corrie since then, Colson now looks different from his first appearance. The actor has also spoken about undergoing a transformation, both physically and emotionally, in recent years whilst on the beloved show.
He’s said to have struggled with his weight after joining the soap opera as a child. Colson told the Mirror in 2021 that from the age of 11, around the time of his debut, he would read comments about his weight on social media. It’s said to have led to him feeling like “the odd one out” and years later he decided to make changes in his life and lost 10 stone.
Colson, who appeared in the documentary Bored Of Being The Fat Kid, also told us at the time: “I was always the fat kid. In most of my social situations, social circles, that’s just who I was. And it’s kind of the identity that I ended up with. I made that conscious decision. I was ready to kind of change that identity and I was ready to move on from it.”
And speaking about changing his mindset, he shared: “I guess the main thing I’ve learned is who Colson is, I’ve learned to like myself and I’ve learned to trust myself. I’ve learned to believe in myself and I’m now really enjoying life.”
The actor, who spoke on Celebrity Big Brother last year about having once been in a cycle of bingeing and starving himself, previously revealed that he lost weight after taking up running in lockdown as part of a new lifestyle. He’s said of the activity: “Running does give you confidence.”
Speaking on This Morning in 2021, he said: “In terms of my mental health, my ability and my confidence, it has changed a lot. And y’know it’s something so simple as in a little bit of investment in yourself goes a long way.”
He’s also changed his hair since his debut. Colson shared last year that he had a hair transplant and would no longer sport “comb overs and baseball caps”. He said: “[It’s] been on my agenda since I first noticed my hair loss at the age 22.”
Colson added: “Losing my hair at such a young age has been a tough thing for me to come to terms with, I instantly feel SOOO much better and more confident that I’ve taken a step to getting back my luscious strawberry blonde locks.”
In an update last month, he told his followers on Instagram: “The difference it’s made to my confidence and general wellbeing has been MINT!” The actor, who said he has grown a new hairline, added: “I’m loving watching it grow.”
Coronation Street continues tonight on ITV, STV, ITVX and STV Player from 8pm.
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