Coronation Street fans were left devastated on Monday night as concerns mounted over the fate of Craig Tinker, following a tense episode that stirred up social media speculation.
The drama unfolded when Craig, portrayed by Colson Smith, responded to a disturbance at Mick and Lou Michaelis’ house. However, he was quickly dismissed by Lou, which left viewers unsettled.
This came shortly after Kit Green planted seeds of doubt in Mick’s mind by hinting that Lou might not be as faithful as she appears. Fans will recall the recent flashback episode, which revealed that Kit and Lou had an affair during Mick’s time in prison—raising suspicions that Kit could be Brody’s biological father.
As the storyline escalated, Mick abruptly fled the scene, grabbing a baseball bat and a bottle of alcohol, before speeding off in his van, according to Leicestershire Live.
Meanwhile, Craig—eager to prove himself during his CID placement—took action when he spotted Mick driving erratically.
After stopping Mick’s car, the furious and intoxicated criminal attacked Craig, hitting him with his baseball bat and leaving him unconscious on the ground before driving away.
In upcoming scenes, Craig is rushed to hospital where he struggles to recount what happened and is placed in intensive care with brain swelling. Later, it’s revealed that Craig’s condition worsens… will he recover or is this the end for Craig?
Actor Colson, famed for his role as Craig Tinker on Coronation Street, left fans emotional with a poignant Instagram post on Monday evening, hinting at his character’s final moments. Pictured in full police gear, the 26-year-old actor captioned the snapshot: “One last shift mate. #Tinks.”
Fans of Colson’s flocked to the comments section, voicing their sorrow upon his impending exit. One wrote: “Noooo. Craig will be missed. Good luck in your next adventure”, while another shared: “Oh Colson, I’m going to be gutted to see Craigy go but also excited to see what’s next in line for you” and yet another follower commented: “I can’t watch it. I honestly won’t be able to watch Corrie anymore. I will watch what you’ll be in next.”
More messages of support poured in, with sentiments 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 heart breaking watch xx”. Some fans noted how memorable his performances were, saying: “You will be missed, won’t be the same without you x” and recalling specific scenes, one stated: “My eyes welled up watching Mick drive off leaving Craig lying bleeding.”
This emotional moment follows the announcement earlier this year that Colson would be departing the show. He opened up about his feelings towards leaving, sharing: “Autumn last year I was told that Craig Tinkers time on the Cobbles is to come to end in 2025.”
He reflected on his journey on the soap lovingly, 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 learnt pretty much everything about life from the people who call it home. I’m excited to play out the exit story for Our Craigy.
“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!”