Axed Coronation Street star hints his character HASN'T been killed off and could make shock return to soap
Corrie's PC Craig Tinker might not be out for the count just yet - actor Colson Smith has teased his character could survive the brutal attack that left him motionless.
6
6
Fans of the ITV soap were left shocked as the beloved character was brutally attacked and left for dead in Monday's episode.
The much-loved Weatherfield resident was caught in a violent showdown, which left their life hanging in the balance.
Viewers saw Mick Michaelis go on a furious rampage after finding out that 16-year-old Brody might not be his biological son.
Mick turned violent as he demanded answers from wife Lou Michaelis about her past with their former pal, Kit Green.
Viewers got an upsetting insight into Lou's domestic abuse from Mick - which left the residents on the cobbles worried for Lou's safety.
Meanwhile, Craig was determined to prove himself on the first day of his CID training.
He pulled over Mick at the Weatherfield Precinct for drink-driving.
Hellbent on getting revenge on Kit, Mick violently attacked Craig with a bat and left him for dead.
However, the actor has hinted that his character Craig could be very much still be alive.
Taking to X - formerly Twitter - Colson wrote: "He's just sleeping…" after the episode aired last night.
One fan replied: "You better just be sleeping!! I'm gonna have a mega tantrum if you don't come back from this!!"
Another added: "If this is how you leave it's unacceptable, national tragedy #Corrie #coronationstreet"
A third joked: "Lazy bugger, sleeping on the job!!"
Wednesday's episode of Corrie will see Craig rushed to hospital and desperately try to make his police colleagues aware of who was responsible for attacking him.
Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025
ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap.
This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama.
Colson Smith - Craig Tinker
The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig's on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role.
Sue Cleaver - Eileen Grimshaw
After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I'm A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she's already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future.
Luca Toolan - Mason Radcliffe
Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after just 16 months after he first joined the show. Recent scenes saw Mason stabbed by his criminal brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him.
Sue Devaney - Debbie Webster
In November 2024, we revealed that Debbie Webster is set to be killed off after 40 years on the cobbles. The character will die as part of a heartbreaking long-running dementia storyline.
Charlotte Jordan - Daisy Midgeley
The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she's hungry to see what other opportunities await.
Shelley King - Yasmeen Metcalfe
The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and we revealed in January that she finished filming her final scenes. This follows the departure of her on-screen partner Stu Carpenter.
Colson said: "I can't wait for people to see Craig's final scenes. It is exactly the exit I wanted for him and we are all really proud of what we filmed in those final weeks.
"It was actually great fun. I was walking around covered in fake blood for days and I was chuffed that I got to work with so many brilliant people in this final storyline."
Back in March, The Sun revealed how Colson's character Craig would be killed off in a dramatic storyline.
A source told us: "Craig has grown up on the street and he's become part of it so it was a tough decision to make but one that will be worth it.
"PC Tinker will meet his maker in heroic circumstances this summer and there won't be a dry eye in the house when it goes out.
"Colson is taking it well and there's a real feeling that this chapter is closing for him and there are bigger and brighter things ahead."
The 26-year-old actor was one of several stars who have been axed from the ITV soap.
Corrie is gearing up for a number of exits for some iconic characters this summer, including Eileen Grimhshaw is set to exit the cobbles with actress Sue Cleaver quitting the soap after an incredible 25 years.
The soap has already seen several characters depart the cobbles from the likes of Daisy Midgeley to Mason Radcliffe.
ITV is facing a financial crisis due to soaring production costs, a decline in advertising revenue, and a drop in viewing figures, leading to budget cuts and cast departures.
Consequently, the broadcaster is reducing the length of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale episodes from hour-long to 30-minute installments, starting in January 2026.
This change will create a "soaps power hour" where Emmerdale airs at 8pm, followed by Coronation Street at 8:30pm each weeknight.
But with ratings falling and viewers switching to streamers like Netflix, more soap stars are fearing the axe - should they be worried?
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX.
6
6
6
6
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Sir Elton John shuts down rumours of ABBA-style hologram show with X-rated joke
Sir Elton John has poured cold water on rumours he's planning a flashy ABBA-style hologram concert, despite fans thinking the tech-filled spectacle could be next on the cards. Hopeful supporters began speculating after spotting trademark documents for his name covering holograms, video projections and immersive 3D virtual reality experiences. But according to reports, those close to the Rocket Man, 78, have made it clear there's no such show in the pipeline. Elton has long made his stance clear, previously admitting in 2018 that the idea wasn't for him. However, during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, he did briefly dabble in the digital world with a London pop-up at King's Cross, which featured an augmented reality version of him playing the piano. When quizzed about the stunt at the time, according to The Sun, the music legend laughed off the suggestion, branding himself a 'Luddite' and joking he'd never downloaded anything in his life - 'not even porn.' While acts such as KISS and The Rolling Stones have embraced the futuristic hologram trend – with Mick Jagger cheekily noting you can 'have a posthumous business now' – Elton is sticking firmly to the real deal. Fresh from wrapping his mammoth final tour, he's been back in the studio, releasing Who Believes in Angels with Brandi Carlile in April. It comes after the Rocket Man star joined thousands of mourners to lay Black Sabbath singer, Ozzy Osbourne to rest in a private funeral at his Buckinghamshire home on Thursday. The heavy metal icon, who died last week aged 76, shared a decades long friendship and even credited singer Elton for helping his recovery following a horrific quad bike accident in 2003. The pair also collaborated on Ozzy's 2020 track Ordinary man, with Elton providing the piano and vocals, alongside Slash on guitar and Red Hot Chili Peppers Chad Smith drumming. Elton, 78, even appeared on the family's MTV show The Osbourne's in 2005, giving fans a rare glimpse into the pairs unique bond. While visiting their home in LA the Crocodile Rock icon removed a huge gold and diamond necklace from his neck to gift to his shocked pal. Clearly shocked by the gesture, Ozzy said: 'No! f**** off!' and said he 'felt bad' for accepting the trinket, Elton quipped: 'Don't be so stupid you silly old b******'. During his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, Eltoon did briefly dabble in the digital world with a London pop-up at King's Cross, which featured an augmented reality version of him playing the piano Elton, once appeared on the family's MTV show The Osbourne's in 2005, giving fans a rare glimpse into the pairs unique bond as he presented his friend with a lavish necklace Following his death Elton shared a snap of himself and Ozzy alongside an emotional tribute to his 'dear friend which read: 'So sad to hear the news of @ozzyosbourne passing away '. 'He was a dear friend and a huge trailblazer who secured his place in the pantheon of rock gods - a true legend. He was also one of the funniest people I've ever met. I will miss him dearly. To Sharon and the family, I send my condolences and love. Elton xx'. It comes after the music legend celebrated 35 years of sobriety last month with handmade cards from his sons Zachary and Elijah. The singer who once admitted he 'would be dead' had he not have asked sought help with his addictions, rang in the milestone with his family. Sharing his gratitude in an Instagram update, Elton marked the milestone at home with his husband David Furnish and their sons Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11. He uploaded a photo of the cards and flowers he had received from his close friends and relatives. 'Grateful for all the love on my sobriety birthday,' Elton captioned. The musician has been very open about his battle with alcohol and drugs which nearly derailed his career and cost him his life. Speaking in an interview in December, Elton said he treated former lovers 'like hostages,' behaved like an 'a**hole' and was unable to operate household appliances without help until he was well into his forties because of his issues with addiction. The legendary singer-songwriter made a series of startling admissions about his personal life in TIME magazine. Discussing at length a crippling addiction to alcohol and cocaine at the height of his fame in the 1970s and '80s, Sir Elton admitted there were numerous casualties before his eventual rehabilitation in the '90s - among them his former partners. 'You make terrible decisions on drugs, he explained. 'I wanted love so badly, I would just take hostages. 'I'd see someone I liked and spend three or four months together, and then they would resent me because they had nothing in their life apart from me. 'It really upsets me, thinking back on how many people I probably hurt.'
Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
BBC sitcom slapped with trigger warning for 'discriminatory language' in ANOTHER woke crackdown
BBC sitcom Some Mothers Do Ave Em have been slapped with trigger warning for 'discriminatory language' in another woke crackdown. Streaming service, iPlayer, shows a message at the start of the 1975 festive episode that says the show may 'contains discriminatory language.' The episode prompted a slew of complaints of a homophobic slur as Michael Crawford's character Frank Spencer is called a 'p**f' after dressing up as a pixie. In the scene, Frank says: 'I'm the chief of the pixies, I'm the friend of all the little boys and girls.' A boy turns to him and replies: 'Oh no you're not, you're a p**f.' Frank responds: 'I beg your pardon! Block your ears!' The warning reads: 'This episode contains discriminatory language which some may find offensive.' It comes after a Doctor Who spin-off was also slapped with 'discriminatory' trigger warnings, just one month after a 'lost' episode was re-released. The Savages first aired back in 1966 and starred the first ever Time Lord William Hartnell, but has since been declared as 'missing from the archives' by the broadcaster. However, an animated remake has recently been released on DVD, albeit with a string of warnings. The British Board of Film Classification reportedly warned the show contained 'verbal references to discrimination and the discriminatory social structure of an alien society'. It is listed as PG-rated and episodes carry references to 'mild threats,' 'scary scenes,' discrimination references,' and 'mild violence'. Last year, Matt Smith, who played the 11th Doctor in the series, shared his dislike for trigger warnings on movies. The actor said he used to walk into local video shops as a teenager and rent erotic thrillers, like Basic Instinct, to enjoy the scare-factor of the film - but now worries movies and programmes are being dialled down. Matt claims the point of a 'thriller' or an 'uncomfortable' watch has been taken away through trigger warnings. He told The Times: 'I worry everything's being dialled and dumbed down. We're telling audiences they're going to be scared before they've watched something.' The House Of Dragons star added: 'Ah, trigger warnings — the tedious modern idea that adults cannot cope with being upset by art. Isn't being shocked, surprised, stirred the point? 'Too much policing of stories and being afraid to bring them out because a climate is a certain way is a shame. I'm not sure I'm on board with trigger warnings.' He explained how after starring in family favourite Doctor Who he has actively pursued roles focusing on 'messed-up people' adding that 'that's the f***ing point. We should be telling morally difficult stories, nowadays in particular.'
Daily Mail
13 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
The best Queen we never had: On eve of her 75th birthday, secrets of Princess Anne's life - from why she never sunbathes to who really does her hair, revealed by REBECCA ENGLISH
Few will be surprised to hear that Princess Anne is not prone to public displays of sentiment. But after turning down endless requests to shoot a new portrait to mark her 75th birthday next week, she finally agreed to pose for a picture at Windsor Castle last month, shortly before the French state banquet.
