The Kirk Sutherland actor said the show’s latest exit has ‘hit him hard’ as he shared an emotional message following his co-star’s leaving party
Coronation Street legend Andy Whyment has said the show’s latest exit has ‘hit him hard’ as he shared an emotional message following his co-star’s leaving party.
It is no secret to fans that Colson Smith would be leaving the ITV soap this year after almost 14 years in the role of Craig Tinker, the step-son of Andy’s character Kirk Sutherland.
Colson has grown up alongside his character on-screen, having first appeared in Weatherfield as the son of Beth Tinker, played by Lisa George, as a youngster back in 2011.
The actor confirmed in January that he’d been informed last year that his character would be written out of the long-running show in a statement posted to social media.
He said at the time: “Autumn last year I was told that Craig Tinker’s time on the Cobbles is to come to end in 2025. 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 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.” Rounding off his post and showing their is no bad blood, Colson added: “LONG LIVE THE COBBLES!”
While it wasn’t clear when Colson would be leaving the show, at the end of this week, the 26-year-old revealed he had headed to Corrie’s Trafford-based set to film for the final time, with rumours hinting that his exit storyline will mark a permanent end to Craig.
On Friday morning (March 21), he shared a picture from his car that showed the ITV building in front of him. The soap star could be seen listening to the Macy Gray track ‘I Try’ as he captioned the post: “The Last Dance,” with a hand making a heart emojis and an orange heart icon.
Later, Colson returned to Instagram with a snap in which he could be sitting above the iconic Rovers Return sign. Alongside the post, the 26-year-old simply issued a seven-word message which read: “CORONATION STREET I LOVE YOU, THANK YOU.”
He has since been seen enjoying his leaving party, which he previously spoke on his podcast, On The Sofa, about organising, with the bash attended by a string of Corrie’s cast and crew, including Andy, Jane Danson (Leanne Battersby), Alison King (Carla Connor), Lucy Fallon (Bethany Platt) and Daniel Brocklebank (Billy Mayhew).
On Saturday (March 22), Andy took to Instagram with a snap of himself and Colson at his leaving party, with a police car balloon seen floating behind them.
Alongside the post, the soap star wrote: “Last night we had @colsonjsmith Coronation Street leaving party. I’ve seen a lot of people leave the show over the 24 years I’ve been there but I can honestly say this one has hit me so hard.
“I’ve watched you grow from the chubby ginger kid with Daryl the rat when you were 12 years of age to the caring loving man you are today, I know we won’t be working together anymore but I’ll always be here as a friend. Go out there and smash it as I know you will, but I as will millions of people miss PC Craig Tinker.”
Responding to the post, Colson wrote in the comments section: “Nothing but love and respect Andy. The perfect way for it to end!” Andy then replied: “It was a fantastic night for a diamond of a human being, there was so much love on that room for you Cols. You will be missed.”
Corrie co-star Sally Carman-Duttin (Abi Webster) also reponded to the post, writing: “Lovely words Andy.” Former soap star Melanie Hill (Cathy Matthews) shared: “Lovely words Andy -sad to see him go -a truly lovely young man with many adventures ahead of him.” Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster) simply responded with a string of red heart emojis.
