Coronation Street star Colson Smith has opened up about one of his biggest disappointments as he prepares to leave the iconic ITV soap after nearly 14 years. 

The 26-year-old actor, who has portrayed Craig Tinker since 2011, 

admitted that his time on the show is coming to an end earlier than he had hoped, leaving him short of a personal milestone.

Colson’s Coronation Street Journey

Fans have watched Colson’s character, Craig, grow from an awkward, loveable teenager into a dedicated police officer on the cobbles of Weatherfield. 

Over the years, Craig has been involved in major storylines, 

including his struggles with OCD and his commitment to upholding the law despite conflicts of interest in his personal life.

However, as part of a shake-up at Coronation Street, Colson is among several actors whose characters are being written out. Speaking on the On The Sofa podcast, which he co-hosts with Corrie co-stars Jack P. Shepherd (David Platt) and Ben Price (Nick Tilsley), Colson shared that missing out on a key milestone is one of his biggest regrets.

Falling Short of a Personal Milestone

Colson revealed that he had hoped to reach 1,000 episodes on the soap, but due to his departure, he will fall around 150 episodes short of that goal.

“They’ve said it’s 14 years,” he explained on the podcast. “Less than a thousand episodes though. That was my goal in life. I think I’m 150 off.”

For an actor who has been a staple on the show for over a decade, falling short of this milestone is undoubtedly frustrating.

Craig’s Final Scenes Revealed

Colson also gave fans a sneak peek into how his farewell will play out on screen. While many exits from Coronation Street take place on the famous cobbled streets, Craig’s goodbye will unfold in a different setting.

“The big speech is on the street, but I don’t think I’m on the street,” Colson revealed. “I think I’m in Roy’s Rolls.”

Roy’s Rolls café has been a key location in Weatherfield for years, and it seems fitting that Craig’s departure will take place in one of the most beloved establishments in the soap. However, this revelation has left fans curious about what will lead Craig to say his goodbyes there rather than in a dramatic street-side send-off.

Breaking the News to His Friends

One of the hardest parts of leaving Coronation Street, Colson admitted, was breaking the news to his close friends Jack P. Shepherd and Ben Price.

Recalling the emotional moment on the podcast, Colson said:

“The hardest bit was walking down the stairs knowing you two were there. I just stood in the doorway of the green room, didn’t I? And I looked at you two.”

He then described the bittersweet moment when he hugged Ben, only to catch a reflection of Jack hugging his waist in the TV screen.

“We had a hug, and then I went, ‘Can we go to Nando’s?’” he added, bringing a touch of humor to the emotional farewell.

A Wave of Exits from Coronation Street

Colson is not the only star set to leave Coronation Street this year. His departure is part of a larger shake-up in the cast, with several other key actors exiting the soap.

Sue Devaney, who plays Debbie Webster, is also being written out. Meanwhile, Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw), Shelley King (Yasmeen Metcalfe), Charlotte Jordan (Daisy Midgeley), and Paddy Bever (Max Turner) have all chosen to leave the show.

While fans will certainly miss these familiar faces, their exits pave the way for fresh storylines and new characters to shake things up in Weatherfield.

What’s Next for Colson Smith?

Although his time as Craig Tinker is coming to an end, Colson’s future in the entertainment industry looks bright. The actor has already showcased his talents beyond soap acting, including his impressive weight loss journey, which he documented in a fitness documentary, Bored of Being the Fat Kid.

While he hasn’t revealed his next move just yet, Colson’s departure from Coronation Street is unlikely to be the last fans see of him on their screens.

For now, viewers can only wait and see how Craig’s storyline wraps up and whether his departure will leave the door open for a potential return in the future.

Follow us to see more useful information, as well as to give us more motivation to update more useful information for you.