Colson Smith, who plays Craig Tinker on Coronation Street, has left fans feeling upset after sharing a mysterious post on Instagram.
Earlier in the week, viewers watched as Craig responded to a disturbance at Mick and Lou Michaelis’ house, only to be turned away by Lou.
This happened shortly after Kit Green suggested to Mick that Lou might not be as loyal as he thinks, planting seeds of suspicion.
Fans will recall that a flashback episode last week revealed Kit and Lou had an affair while Mick was in prison, hinting that Kit might actually be Brody’s biological father.
Following Craig’s investigation of the disturbance, Mick abruptly left the scene with a baseball bat and a bottle of alcohol, speeding away in his van, according to Leicestershire Live.
At the same time, Craig—eager to impress Kit during his CID placement—took action when he spotted Mick driving dangerously.
After pulling over Mick’s vehicle, the enraged and intoxicated criminal attacked Craig, striking him with a baseball bat and leaving him unconscious before fleeing the scene.
In upcoming episodes, Craig is rushed to the hospital, where he struggles to remember the incident and is placed in intensive care due to brain swelling. As his condition deteriorates, the big question remains—will Craig survive, or is this the end for him?
Actor Colson Smith, best known for playing Craig Tinker on Coronation Street, left fans emotional with a touching Instagram post on Monday night. Dressed in full police uniform, the 26-year-old captioned the photo: “One last shift mate. #Tinks,” hinting at his character’s possible final moments.
Fans of Colson quickly filled the comments section with emotional messages, expressing their sadness over his upcoming departure. One wrote, “Noooo. Craig will be missed. Good luck in your next adventure,” while another added, “Oh Colson, I’m going to be gutted to see Craigy go, but also excited to see what’s next for you.” Another follower shared, “I can’t watch it. I honestly won’t be able to watch Corrie anymore. I’ll follow whatever you do next.”
More heartfelt messages continued to pour in, with comments like, “I can’t like this post, it’s really sad—good luck with your next chapter @colsonjsmith x,” and “Loved watching you grow up on Corrie. This is heartbreaking to watch xx.” Many fans praised his performance, saying, “You will be missed, it won’t be the same without you x,” and one recalled a particularly emotional scene: “My eyes welled up watching Mick drive off leaving Craig lying there bleeding.”
This wave of emotion follows the announcement earlier this year that Colson would be leaving the show. Reflecting on his exit, he revealed: “In autumn last year, I was told that Craig Tinker’s time on the Cobbles would come to an end in 2025.”
Colson looked back fondly on his time on the soap, saying: “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 bring Craigy’s exit storyline to life.
“For me, this is just the end of the beginning. I genuinely can’t wait to see what chapter two has in store. LONG LIVE THE COBBLES!”