Coronation Street star Lisa George has broken her silence on her co-star’s exit from the ITV soap
In a heartbreaking episode that aired on Wednesday night, loyal viewers said goodbye to Colson Smith as he departed the role of Craig Tinker, marking the end of his impactful 14-year journey on the ITV soap. The drama reached its peak earlier in the week when beloved character Craig tragically lost his life, caught in the crossfire of Mick Michaelis’ ruthless revenge plot against Kit Green.
The horrific scene saw Craig brutally attacked by a baseball-bat-wielding Mick when he pulled him over for speeding and suspected drink driving.
Craig’s brutal battering led to devastating injuries which saw his life slip away at the hospital, plunging residents of Weatherfield into a deep abyss of shock and grief, as reported by Leicestershire Live.
Craig’s exit marks a poignant moment for Coronation Street, waving goodbye to a beloved face that has been a staple since 2011.
Lisa, portraying his mum on screen, took to Instagram after the gut-wrenching Wednesday episode to reflect on the storyline culmination.
52-year-old Lisa posted a montage of snapshots capturing Beth and Craig’s cobbles journey over the years, captioning it with the touching words: “Our Craigy… the best mother and son duo for 13 years.
“Well done with all you’ve achieved @colsonjsmith!! A new chapter begins, wishing you all the luck in the world! It was a pleasure working with you for all that time and I can’t wait to see what you do next #corrie #coronationstreet #motherandson #craig #beth #actorslife #workworkwork #itv.”
Responding to the tribute, 26 year old Craig actor Colson replied
The heartfelt message from Lisa, who portrayed Beth, Craig’s mother, sparked speculation among Coronation Street fans about her potential return to the show.
Beth had left the ITV drama last year after being manipulated by the character Kit, marking the end of her 13-year stint. Her first appearance on the show was 14 years ago in 2011, when she joined alongside her on-screen son Craig.
Speculation arose among viewers, with one wondering: “Gonna miss our Craig, hope this means your back for a while to say goodbye?”, while another fan hoped: “Aww hope you’re back soon, would make sense as a mother”. Another fan pleaded: “please come back for his funeral” and yet another expressed: “hope you’ll be back for his funeral.”
Colson had announced his departure from Coronation Street earlier this year, sharing that he was informed last autumn that Craig Tinker’s time on the show would conclude in 2025.
Reflecting on his extended tenure on the show, Colson expressed gratitude for the invaluable life experiences it provided him.
Colson wrapped up his announcement by stating: “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!”.