Colson Smith: What He’s Doing Now, Real Name, Leaving Corrie

Few actors spend more than a decade on a single soap before moving on, but Colson Smith did exactly that when he left Coronation Street in May 2025 after 14 years as PC Craig Tinker, kicking off a career pivot into presenting, podcasting, and running a cricket club. Here’s what we know about where Smith is now, why he left, and what his next chapter looks like.

Age: 26 (born 13 August 1998) ·
Full name: Colson John Smith ·
Known for: Playing PC Craig Tinker on Coronation Street ·
Years on Coronation Street: 2011–2025 (14 years) ·
Birthplace: Dorchester, Dorset, England ·
Instagram handle: @colsonjsmith

Eight key facts about Colson Smith, drawn from verified sources:

What is Colson Smith doing now?

Since leaving Coronation Street, Smith has repositioned himself as a multimedia presenter. His LinkedIn profile (professional network) reads: “An actor who now presents things.” That shift is already visible: he co-hosts the On The Sofa Show podcast with former co-stars Jack P. Shepherd and Ben Price, a series that has run 627 episodes since 2019 (Apple Podcasts (podcast directory)).

Colson Smith’s current projects

• Presenting work: Smith has appeared on ITV’s This Morning and BBC Sport (public broadcaster) after his running journey gained attention.
• Podcast: The On The Sofa Show continues with new episodes; in July 2025 the trio confirmed the podcast would keep running despite Smith’s soap exit (The Sun (UK tabloid)).
• Running and cricket: Smith discussed his life-changing running habit on a BBC Sounds (public broadcaster) podcast and runs a local cricket club.

Podcast and presenting work

Smith told ITV’s This Morning that he wants “to do more work as Colson” after leaving the soap, specifically in television presenting and audio projects (YouTube / ITV This Morning (interview video)). He added that he had “a couple of live shows coming up” tied to the podcast.

The implication: Smith’s gamble hinges on converting his soap fanbase into a sustainable media career, with live events and digital content as the bridge.

What is Colson Smith’s real name?

His full name is Colson John Smith, as listed on Wikipedia (encyclopedia). He was born on 13 August 1998 in Dorchester, Dorset, England. “Colson Smith” is both his stage name and legal public name—no alias or middle-name stage brand. The use of “Colson” as a first name is unusual but genuine; he has never adopted a professional pseudonym.

Why is Colson Smith leaving Corrie?

Smith was told in January 2025 that his character would be written out (The Sun (UK tabloid)). The exit aired on 23 May 2025, when PC Craig Tinker was killed off after being attacked by Mick Michaelis (Digital Spy (soap news outlet)). In a post-exit interview, Smith described Craig’s death as “the right thing for Craig to be killed” because the character had nowhere left to go (Digital Spy (soap news outlet)).

Colson Smith’s statement

In a farewell video posted to YouTube, Smith said, “I’ve got everything that I’ve got from Coronation Street” (YouTube / ITV This Morning (interview video)). He expressed gratitude for the 14-year run but made clear he was ready for the next chapter. The pattern: Smith frames the exit as mutual—the show needed to move on, and so did he.

Is Colson Smith married?

No public record confirms a spouse or partner. Searches for “Colson Smith wife” or “Colson Smith partner” return only speculative fan pages, no verified source. Smith keeps his private life offline; his Instagram feed focuses on running, cricket, and podcast promotions, not relationships. This lack of confirmed information is deliberate: Smith has not addressed relationship status in any interview or social post.

The catch: Smith’s privacy around relationships contrasts with his otherwise open social media persona, suggesting a deliberate boundary.

Did Colson Smith confront Coronation Street boss over his character’s exit?

Yes, Smith has openly discussed confronting the show’s boss about Craig Tinker’s exit. In a July 2025 interview with Digital Spy (soap news outlet), he recalled a direct conversation where he argued for a meaningful ending rather than a quiet departure. The confrontation reportedly influenced the decision to kill off the character—a dramatic close Smith says he wanted for the role.

Timeline: Colson Smith’s career milestones

Six key dates trace the arc from child actor to multimedia creator:

The timeline shows a clear pivot: Smith leveraged his soap tenure into a diversified media portfolio, with the podcast acting as a bridge between acting and presenting.

“An actor who now presents things.”

— Colson Smith, LinkedIn profile (professional network)

“In a really weird way, it was the right thing for Craig to be killed.”

— Colson Smith, speaking to Digital Spy (soap news outlet)

Smith’s transition from soap actor to presenter is still in its early stages, but the trajectory is clear: he is building a personal brand around fitness, conversation, and live events. For Coronation Street fans, the loss of a long-running character is softened by the knowledge that Smith’s personality—and his podcast—remain accessible. For Smith himself, the gamble is whether freelance presenting can match the stability of a 14-year soap contract. The early bets are on live shows and a growing digital audience.

Fans curious about his journey from Weatherfield to the podcast booth can read more in Colson Smiths biography and career for updates on his net worth and 2025 projects.

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