Coronation Street actor Colson Smith bowed out as Craig Tinker after 14 years in a very brutal death scene, however the TV star made sure to leave a mark on the set before he left
Colson Smith proved there are no hard feelings following his brutal Coronation Street exit as he shared a series of unseen photos. The actor, who had played Craig Tinker, saw his time on the soap come to a very dramatic end on Wednesday night.
After 14 years on the cobbles, Craig bowed out in devastating scenes. He was murdered by villain Mick Michaelis in a cold-blooded and violent attack.
Shockingly, Craig was left for dead before being rushed to hospital where the police officer succumbed to his brutal injuries. Colson had worked on Corrie since he was just 11-years-old, but accepted his time had finally come to an end when he was called for a meeting with boss Kate Brooks.
The actor was axed from the soap, yet Colson managed to keep his spirits high as he bid farewell to Craig. Taking to Instagram after his final episode aired, Colson shared a series of cheeky photos from his time on the show.
He said: “My dump from my final block as Craig Tinker on Coronation Street. Thank you for having me.” Colson gave fans a behind-the-scenes look at his final outing as Craig, where he showed off his naughty side.
In one snap, Colson could be seen on top of the Rovers Return as he perched out of the top window. He also tried to keep smiling while filming his death scene as he laid out on a crash mat.
Colson gave fans a sneaky look into the dressing room as he showed how he was covered in cuts and scars thanks to the makeup department.
Despite the harrowing scenes, the TV star managed to take selfies while covered in blood in-between shots, with one backstage and another on his hospital stretcher.
Colson even topped up his tan in his full police uniform while waiting for camera to get rolling on his murder scene.
Speaking to The Mirror and other press, actor Colson shared his true thoughts on his axing and his exit plot. He also shared the shocked reaction of others when they found out his news.
Colson told us: “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. The last few weeks were mint, they were perfect and it was a really nice way to go out.
“I worked with great people, and I feel very lucky, and I felt very confident in everything that we did. I feel like the story worked.” Colson revealed the moment he figured out he had been dropped from the show, before soap boss Kate had even spoken to him.
He explained: “I knew that Craig had backed himself into a corner that was going to be really hard to get out of, so I fully expected the chat to go that way.”
Colson admitted he wanted Craig to be killed off and wouldn’t accept any other way of leaving. “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,” he said. “So in a really weird way, it was the right thing for me to be killed.”
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