Colson Smith, who has portrayed Craig Tinker since childhood, was reportedly written out of Coronation Street earlier this year after a 14-year run on the show.
Colson Smith has grown up in front of our eyes after joining Coronation Street as a child.
After 14 years of playing Craig Tinker, it was announced that his character would be departing the show.
The actor has taken on many different dramatic storylines, including his battle with OCD and working to become a police officer.
Early life
Colson was born on 13 August 1998, making him 26 years old. He is originally from Dorchester in Dorset, England, but later moved to Castleford, West Yorkshire.
He began attending acting classes run by Northern Film and Drama in 2009.
Career
Colson joined Coronation Street in 2011 playing Craig Tinker, the son of Beth Tinker – who was played by Lisa George.
After some challenging storylines, he was nominated for for Best Young Actor at the 2015 Inside Soap Awards.
He has held several other roles outside of the popular soap, including short films Platform2C, Hollows Wood and Jailhouse Dog.
Colson launched his own YouTube documentary Bored of Being the Fat Kid in 2020, which explored his weight loss journey through running.
Colson Smith played Craig Tinker on Coronation Street
He also takes part in the podcast On The Sofa with Colson, Jack and Ben, with two of his Coronation Street co-stars Ben Price and Jack P. Shepherd.
The actor is a familiar face to those who love reality television as he has taken part in a celebrity special of Sitting on a Fortune, the sporting reality series The Games and he came third in 2024’s Celebrity Big Brother.
It was announced in January 2025 that Colson had been axed from Coronation Street after 14 years.
Life since leaving soap
Since filming his final scenes, he has already been on the hunt for a job.
During a chat for the On The Sofa podcast, he opened up about filming a self-tape for the crime dramedy Ludwig.
He explained that the role was for a policeman, with him adding: “I think it was too similar to Craig Tinker. I find it very, very difficult to play a copper.
“The casting brief – like, I basically did a brainstorm of everything that was on the casting brief – it was, like, cringey, likeable. I was going through it and it was grating.”
He continued: “I did it and I’ve not heard anything back, so that’s the way it goes. But I think it was just nice to do my first tape and it was for a relatively big [production].
“I knew I wasn’t going to get it sort of thing, because one, it was for a big show and two, a copper, but it was just a nice experience to get out and do it.”
Colson also tried his hand at something completely different to acting in April, as he followed in his sister Hannah’s footsteps – who works as a vet.
Sharing a picture of himself with lambs, trying out the new career. He wrote: ”Spent my Sunday delivering lambs. Midwife mode: activated.”
The soap star has previously helped his sister during lambing season on her farm.
Relationship
Colson is in a relationship with make-up artist Taylor Gunn, however, they prefer to keep their relationship private.
They went public with their romance last year during the Celebrity Big Brother final. The couple were reunited after being apart for the show.
“Colson and Taylor are really happy together,” a source previously told The Sun.
“He is a private person, but it felt like the right time to share the romance. The pair mix in the same circles and are said to have met while out.
“Taylor is a make-up artist but also a wedding and events coordinator at Manchester Hall, where the Corrie cast often hosts parties.
“Colson’s mum really loves her and it looks like they will be ready to make the next step and properly move in together any day now.”