Colson Smith has admitted that his upcoming exit from the show is now feeling ‘real’ after getting his last scripts
Coronation Street star Colson Smith has admitted that his upcoming exit from the show is now feeling ‘real’ after getting his last scripts.
Fans know that the 26-year-old actor has played Craig Tinker for almost 14 years, with viewers having watched him turn from an awkward teenager into Weatherfield’s trusted local policeman.
But Colson revealed last month that he was told last autumn he was being let go from the ITV soap as part of a shake-up on the Street following the exit of his on-screen mum Beth Tinker, played by actress Lisa George.
In a social media post, shared to X and Instagram alongside a picture of himself portraying Craig as a police officer, he announced: “Autumn last year I was told that Craig Tinker’s time on the Cobbles is to come to end in 2025. I’ve loved every single second of my 14 year stay as a resident on the greatest street in the world.”
The soap star added: “I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up in, on and around Coronation Street. I’ve learned pretty much everything about life from the people who call it home. I’m excited to play out the exit story for Our Craigy.”
Colson has since opened up about him leaving the cobbles behind on the podcast he co-hosts with his Corrie co-stars Jack P Shepherd and Ben Price, who Corrie fans will know as David Platt and Nick Tilsley.
And now he’s revealed how he’s received and read his last scripts. Speaking on the new episode of the On the Sofa podcast, Colson said: “It feels very real.
“I think it’s that bit of, I didn’t realise how big of a deal it was, actually getting your last scripts and reading it. It’s quite a lot to process and go through, but I’m excited for the work, I’m excited to play the exit, really, I just want it to happen in a weird way.”
Ben then asked: “Are you saying that before you kind of had it in your head that it’s going to go, but seeing it in black and white is the bit where you thought, ‘Oh, I’ve got X amounts of weeks left, this is it…'” Colson admitted: “I’m like, ‘Ok, I’m into the last stretch now, I’ve got four or five weeks and then I’m twiddling my thumbs playing Football Manager’.”
He did also confirm that he will have one more scene with one of his pals. He said: “I don’t have another scene with you [Jack], I think our last scene has happened, I have a scene with Ben…”
Ben remarked: “I’m crying aren’t I? I think if I’m not crying, I’ll cry..” Colson responded: “I think you should cry. Even if it’s like, ‘Morning Craig, you alright?’’ ‘Morning Nick…'” He added: “I think we should hug at the end.”
While no details have been released about his exit, some fans think they have worked out what will force Craig out of Weatherfield.
The date of Colson’s exit as Craig is yet to be confirmed, but the actor is among several cast members who are leaving ‘Coronation Street’ this year. Sue Devaney (Debbie Webster) is being written out, whilst Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw), Shelley King (Yasmeen Metcalfe), Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley) and Paddy Bever (Max Turner) have all opted to quit the soap.