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CORONATION Street star has revealed he’s swapped the cobbles for the cricket pitch – just days after his character was dramatically killed off.
The actor, who recently bowed out of the ITV soap in emotional scenes, is now working as a groundsman at his local cricket club.
ITVColson’s character Craig Tinker passed away following the horror clubbing[/caption]
instagram/@colsonjsmithBut now the star is volunteering at his local cricket club as a groundsman[/caption]
Coronation Street fans have been left in tears following PC Craig Tinker’s passing.
The loveable policeman died in hospital in sad scenes after being brutally murdered by Mick during a botched arrest.
Craig had attempted to arrest drunk driver Mick but after turning his back for a moment, Mick was able to grab hold of a baseball bat in his van and club Craig over the head and left him to die in the road.
Having been raced to hospital, his family and friends and long-standing colleague PC Jess watched on as he succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
Craig’s death comes after actor Colson Smith was axed from the show as part of on-going cost-cutting measures at the soap and ITV.
The soap favourite has now shared a behind-the-scenes snap from the pitch, trading scripts and stunts for mowers and maintenance.
Taking to his Instagram stories, Colson posted a snap of himself getting his hands dirty while he looks after his local cricket club’s pitch.
He captioned the snap: “Groundman duties @castleford_cricket_club”.
The Cricket fanatic has been volunteering there since his departure from the soap.
The Sun exclusively revealed his character was being killed off back in March.
A source told us: “Craig has grown up on the street and he’s become part of it so it was a tough decision to make but one that will be worth it.
“PC Tinker will meet his maker in heroic circumstances this summer and there won’t be a dry eye in the house when it goes out.
“Colson is taking it well and there’s a real feeling that this chapter is closing for him and there are bigger and brighter things ahead.”
The star marked his soap exit with a wild, booze-fuelled leaving bash.
Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025
ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap.
This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama.
Colson Smith – Craig Tinker
The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig’s on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role.
Sue Cleaver – Eileen Grimshaw
After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I’m A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she’s already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future.
Luca Toolan – Mason Radcliffe
Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after just 16 months after he first joined the show. Recent scenes saw Mason stabbed by his criminal brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him.
Sue Devaney – Debbie Webster
In November 2024, we revealed that Debbie Webster is set to be killed off after 40 years on the cobbles. The character will die as part of a heartbreaking long-running dementia storyline.
Charlotte Jordan – Daisy Midgeley
The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she’s hungry to see what other opportunities await.
Shelley King – Yasmeen Metcalfe
The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and we revealed in January that she finished filming her final scenes. This follows the departure of her on-screen partner Stu Carpenter.
The police themed party paid homage to his character PC Tinker and featured fancy dress, balloons and police tape at the tapas bar and restaurant El Gato Negro Tapas in Manchester.
Many of Colson’s Corrie co-stars attended full of smiles including Andy Whyment, Brooke Vincent, Georgia Taylor, Lucy Fallon, Jacobs Roberts, Tony Maudsley and Sam Aston.
The 26-year-old actor was one of several stars who have been axed from the ITV soap.
Corrie is gearing up for a number of exits for some iconic characters this summer, including Eileen Grimhshaw who is set to exit the cobbles with actress Sue Cleaver quitting the soap after an incredible 25 years.
The soap has already seen several characters depart the cobbles from the likes of Daisy Midgeley to Mason Radcliffe.
ITV is facing a financial crisis due to soaring production costs, a decline in advertising revenue, and a drop in viewing figures, leading to budget cuts and cast departures.
Consequently, the broadcaster is reducing the length of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale episodes from hour-long to 30-minute installments, starting in January 2026.
This change will create a “soaps power hour” where Emmerdale airs at 8pm, followed by Coronation Street at 8.30pm each weeknight.
But with ratings falling and viewers switching to streamers like Netflix, more soap stars are fearing the axe – should they be worried?
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX.
ITVCraig’s friends and family were left devastated by his death[/caption]
Instagram/colsonjsmithColson had a boozy bash to mark his departure on the soap after 14 years[/caption]
Instagram/colsonjsmithThe party was full of drinks and emotional speeches[/caption]
Instagram/colsonjsmithMany of Colson’s Corrie co-stars attended full of smiles[/caption] 
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