Coronation Street’s Colson Smith says co-star 'cried all day' as they were hit with double departure

Coronation Street star Colson Smith has said that one of his castmates was 'crying all day' after his exit news spread around the show's cast during what became a double departure.

The actor has spoken at length about his upcoming exit from the ITV soap as he prepares to mark 14 years of playing Craig Tinker this summer.

Colson confirmed on Monday evening (January 6) that as he prepares to mark 14 years in Weatherfield this summer, his time as his policing alter-ego is coming to an end. 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. 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 added: "For Me, this is just the end of the beginning. I genuinely can’t wait to see what chapter 2 has in store for me. LONG LIVE THE COBBLES!"

Now, he's spoken more in depth about how the decision about the axe of his character occurred and the support his received from his co-stars. But Colson also shared how the news came during a 'big week' for his co-stars and podcast co-host Jack P Shepherd and Ben Price.

During a candid chat on the On The Sofa podcast, which the trio have hosted for a number of years, Colson, 26, recounted the pivotal meeting with Coronation Street's new producer Kate Brooks that signalled the end of his time on the show. Having had a feeling about his contract not being renewed, Colson told how the boss' PA gave him a call to arrange a meeting for the following day.

"As soon as I walked into where her office is, turned the corner and clocked eyes with her, she just gave me this look and I was like 'oh no, don't do that, don't give me that look'. She just looked at me and said 'Colson, this is going to be a really hard conversation' and I said 'I know that', like, let's go and have it."

The decision to write him out came after his character's narrative became "isolated" following the exits of his on-screen girlfriend and mother, leaving Craig without any family ties in the show. Colson said he expected that his time on the cobbles was coming to an end but the timing was slightly difficult for Jack and Ben, who play brothers David Platt and Nick Tilsley, as they told how they waited in the green room during Colson's evening meeting.

Colson's meeting came amidst the exit of Helen Worth, who has decided to bow out of the role of Gail Platt after 50 years. Jack and Ben explained how the following day, they were filming Helen's last scenes before a farewell party in the Bistro.

When he arrived at work that day, Ben primed Colson for the busy green room and walked into the room with him as 'everyone knew' he was also set to leave. He explained how the room fell silent at his entrance before he said 'Hi' and waved his arms in the air. He told how Bethany Platt star Lucy Fallon burst into tears before Jack and Nick bemoaned that co-star Julia Goulding, who plays Shona Platt, 'cried all day'.