Coronation Street star Ben Price emotionally recalls being part of co-star’s early life

Coronation Street star Ben Price has emotionally recalled watching his castmate grow up as he spoke at length about the recent news that he'll be leaving the cobbles behind.

Fans of the ITV soap may not be aware that the actor, who is famed for playing Nick Tilsley, once lived with co-star Colson Smith, who this week announced he's been axed by bosses as they decided his character Craig Tinker had reached the end of his time in Weatherfield.

Colson has grown up alongside his character on-screen, having first appeared in Weatherfield as the son of Beth Tinker, played by Lisa George, as a youngster in 2011, originally for just a couple of episodes in a non-speaking role.

But now, over a decade later, it's been decided that Craig's time in Weatherfield is up. On Wednesday (July 8), Colson spoke about his exit alongside Corrie actors Jack P Shepherd and Ben Price during the latest episode of their podcast, On the Sofa with Colson, Jack, and Ben.

The 26-year-old revealed how Jack and Ben remained close by during his meeting with new producer Kate Brooks about his exit. They also spoke about their close bond with one another, with Colson having lived with both Ben and Jack.

While living together, Jack, who played David Platt in Corrie, admitted it was a "challenge", explaining: "I have to teach him about life and things, and I do his washing. He's like my little project - my nickname is 'Dad'."

But soon Jack ended up ditching Colson to move in with his new girlfriend, now fiancée, in June 2019, leaving the young actor to find a new flatmate. Fortunately, one was right under his nose and he moved in with Ben before Colson later bought his own place.

Ben spoke on the latest episode of their podcast which was centred on Colson's exit about the idea of staying in a job for as long as they have on Corrie and how before then, he was used to short-term contracts job-to-job.

He later said: "To put it into context, when I'm talking about jobs starting and ending, I'm only on that job for five months with those people. I'm not in their lives from 12 to 26 - living with them, seeing their first girlfriend, first car, all those things... I've seen all of that in your life so I really know you, Cols."

Colson replied: "And that's the thing. For me, the thing I'm going to miss more than anything in the world, weirdly, isn't Craig Tinker. It's the green room. I have learned everything about life in that building. Every good day I've had in my life, every bad day I've had in my life, I've been there. It's bizarre!"