Colson Smith shares unseen final Corrie moments on Instagram

North Wales Chronicle

22-05-2025

From 2011 until now, Tinker has been known on the cobbles but he hasn't always been a police officer at Weatherfield Police.
He started playing Craig as a child and reminisced on the soap's official Instagram page about his first two episodes where he was a non-speaking character.
However, Smith has now paid tribute to his character and the times he's had with fellow actors over the last 14 years, as he shared an Instagram post with pictures from his 'final block as Craig Tinker on Coronation Street.'
In the roundup, Smith shared images of his on-set makeup where he can be seen with huge cuts across his face following an attack on his character.
A post shared by Colson (@colsonjsmith)
Leaving the show has been 'emotional' for Smith, as well as his fans.
Talking to ITV's Good Morning Britain (GMB) in April, he said: 'I've been gone three weeks now, I'll always feel emotional'.
He continued: 'I will always miss the place. It was my home. It was my family.
'Those people, they helped me grow up.
'It's very different having done something for 14 years to now know that you're not doing it anymore, and I'm excited to go out and have some fun.
'I'm excited, it feels like a new chapter of my life starting.'
The Radio Times explains how Craig Tinker's death came about: 'Craig was violently attacked by Mick Michaelis (Joe Layton), who had a vendetta against Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) and took his anger out on the young officer who got in his way.
'While Mick fled the scene and tried to menace Kit's girlfriend Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien), Craig briefly came round in hospital.
'But, just as he saw beloved stepdad Kirk Sutherland (Andrew Whyment), who had lovingly brought Craig a tie that he had been looking for, his condition deteriorated.
'Doctors battled to revive Craig, but ultimately declared him dead, watched on by a devastated Kirk, Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon) and paramedic Asha Alahan (Tanisha Gorey).'
A post shared by Coronation Street (@coronationstreet)
Talking to the Radio Times, Colson said he was happy for his character to be killed off, meaning no return for him: 'For me to go, I would want to die, I would want the door to be shut so then I can kind of know in my head that Corrie has been this, Corrie has done that and it is now done, and Craig's journey is over.'
'So in a really weird way, it was the right thing for me to be killed. I didn't want that 'We might have you back', knowing that it would be very unlikely and knowing that it would feel a bit like unfinished business and an unfinished job.
'I think Craig dying, and Craig dying in the line of duty as a copper, that kind of hero's death was by far the most perfect story for the exit.'
Colson also shared pictures of himself outside the Rovers Return pub and him inside Roy's Rolls with fellow actors, including Jack P. Shepherd (David Platt), David Neilson (Roy Cropper) and more.
A post shared by Colson (@colsonjsmith)
In reaction to the Instagram post, fans of Smith shared their sadness at him leaving Coronation Street.
One said: '😭😭he was such a lovely lad from delivering Faye's baby to being an awesome cop it's been a pleasure watching you. So sad to see you wrote out like this. Hoping for bigger and better for you in the future❤️❤️'.
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Another said: 'Corrie won't ever be the same 😢. Whoever gets you next is going to be soooooo lucky❤️'.
One fan commented: 'It's been an absolute pleasure watching being you as PC Tinker! Best of luck in your next chapter…don't stay away for long…you have a great future ahead ❤️'.
This person said: 'My heart is forever broken. It was the worst mistake that Corrie ever made! What a legend. Craig Tinker Forever!!! 😭💕❤️'.