The cobbles are still reeling from one of the most heartbreaking and violent exits in recent memory, as beloved character Craig Tinker met a truly devastating end. But now, less than a week after his on-screen death left fans in shock, actor Colson Smith has unveiled his first major move since bowing out
of Coronation Street after 14 years – and it’s a massive new chapter that’s already taking the TV world by storm!
It was no secret that Colson, who joined the ITV soap as a youngster in 2011, would be leaving the role of Craig Tinker. He confirmed his departure in January, sharing an emotional farewell to the “greatest street in the world.” What fans didn’t fully anticipate was the brutal, tragic nature of Craig’s final moments.
As Corrie viewers witnessed, keen police officer Craig was brutally attacked after being called to a domestic disturbance. Pursuing a suspect, Mick Michaelis, Craig was horrifyingly targeted when Mick pulled out a baseball bat and viciously struck the officer, leaving him motionless and bleeding on the ground. Found later by Maria Windass, Craig was rushed to hospital, seemingly on the mend. But in a cruel twist of fate, he tragically suffered a cardiac arrest and died, leaving his friends and the entire street absolutely devastated. It was a harrowing end for a character who had grown up in front of our eyes.
But from the ashes of Craig Tinker’s heartbreaking demise, a thrilling new path has emerged for Colson Smith! After openly expressing his interest in presenting, the 26-year-old has landed his first major presenting stint on none other than ITV’s flagship daytime show, This Morning!
Colson was seen live on Thursday’s edition of the show, reporting directly from Cheshire, a monumental shift from his uniformed days on the cobbles. He was on hand to catch up with TV star Sam Thompson amidst his mammoth charity challenge, the “Match Ball Mission,” seeing Sam run and cycle 260 miles for Soccer Aid 2025, raising money for Unicef.
Taking to Instagram to reflect on this exciting new chapter, Colson shared his pure joy: “My first day presenting for @thismorning. Soo mint seeing Sam smashing his challenge. Big thanks to This Morning for having me – I LOVED it! More mornings like this please!!”
The outpouring of support from his former Coronation Street family and celebrity friends has been immense. Co-star Sally Carman-Duttine (Abi Webster) quickly commented: “Love this!” Claire Sweeney exclaimed: “This is brilliant news made up for you.” Jack P Shepherd (David Platt), Colson’s podcast co-host, simply added: “What a pro.” Even recent Corrie returnee Ryan Thomas declared: “Born for it.” And Celebrity Big Brother housemate Bradley Riches gushed: “PROUD PROUD PROUD.”
Colson Smith’s journey from the tragic death of a beloved character to embracing a bold new career in live television presenting is nothing short of incredible. Are you shocked by Craig Tinker’s brutal exit, and how do you feel about Colson Smith’s amazing new career move?
