CORONATION Street fans have been left outraged by plans to kill off a beloved character – and vowed to stop watching.
Actor Colson Smith, 26, is leaving the soap after 14 years playing Craig Tinker after bosses decided to axe the character.
Coronation Street is set to kill off Craig Tinker this summer[/caption]
The character has been part of Weatherfield for over a decade[/caption]
Viewers have been left disappointed by the decision[/caption]
The Sun revealed yesterday that Craig is to be killed off in a dramatic storyline this summer.
Writing online, viewers shared their anger and disappointment over the police officer’s impending demise.
One penned: “Why? Just why? I’m so done with Corrie. Misery, misery, misery.”
Another remarked: “For goodness sakes. Is there anyone not being killed off on Corrie right now?”
A third commented: “You can’t be telling me we’ve got yet more misery in store?
“Can there just be one episode with a bit of light-heartedness or happiness? Is that really too much to ask for?”
While a fourth said: “Why? Couldn’t they just have had him transfer to be closer to Beth?”
Craig first arrived on the cobbles in 2011, alongside mum Beth (Lisa George).
Throughout his time in Weatherfield, he’s had relationships with Faye Windass (Ellie Leach) and Bethany (Platt Lucy Fallon).
A source said: “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.
“He’ll film his final scenes later this month and then he’ll say goodbye to Craig once and for all.”
Meanwhile, actor Colson revealed his departure in an emotional statement earlier this year.
He penned: “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 the end of the beginning.
“I genuinely can’t wait to see what chapter two has in store for me.”
Colson opened up about Craig’s cobbles exit on his podcast On the Sofa.
He revealed how co-stars and co-hosts Jack P. Shepherd and Ben Price waited for him while he was meeting with producer Kate Brooks.
The star added: “The hardest bit was walking down the stairs knowing you two were there.
Most devastating soap deaths
SOAP viewers are frequently left heartbroken after watching some of their favourite characters bite the dust.
Here is a list of the most devastating deaths that have taken place in soapland over the years.
EASTENDERS
Barry Evans – Evil Janine (Charlie Brooks) lured her trusting fiance to Scotland for a quickie marriage after learning he was dying.
Her plan to inherit Barry’s fortune was thwarted when Barry told her that the doctors had mixed up his medical files.
Furious that she was no longer set for a windfall, she pushed Barry off a cliff after telling him their love was “fake”.
Bradley Branning – Bradley was accused of killing Stacey Slater’s rapist Archie Mitchell (Larry Lamb) after he punched him twice on the night he died.
He was spotted in the Square by a police woman who chased him up a fire escape.
Bradley lost his balance and tragically plunged to his death.
CORONATION STREET
Tina McIntyre – Tina was getting it on with Peter Barlow – despite him being married to Carla Connor.
When she threatened to reveal the truth, Carla’s brother Rob got into a physical altercation with her.
Tina lost her footing and fell off a balcony – then warned Rob she was going to tell the cops he pushed her.
In a panic, Rob brutally clobbered her over the head with a metal pipe.
Molly Dobbs – Molly was one of the victims in Corrie’s 2010 tram crash, alongside Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold).
Married to Tyrone (Alan Halsall), Molly had been having an affair with Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in the months before her death.
This resulted in the birth of their son, Jack (Kyran Bowes), who was named after Jack Duckworth.
As fate would have it, Kevin’s wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) was by Molly’s side in her final moments.
Sally was stunned as Molly confessed Kevin was Jack’s father, before dying of her injuries.
Vera Duckworth – Having appeared regularly in Corrie since the 1970s, there was no denying Vera Duckworth was an iconic character.
Alongside her husband Jack, the pair formed one of the soap’s most beloved couples.
Viewers were heartbroken when Vera was killed off in 2008, being discovered having passed away peacefully in her chair.
Liz Dawn, who played Vera, made a brief return two years later for Bill Tarmey’s exit as Jack.
Paul Foreman – Fans were heartbroken when Paul Foreman succumbed to his illness after battling motor neurone disease.
Introduced in 2018 as David Platt’s (Jack P. Shepherd) cellmate, he later embarked on a romance – and marriage – with vicar Billy Mayhew.
The MND storyline was announced in 2023 – with the expectation it would result in the character’s death.
EMMERDALE
Sarah Sugden – After the family got into financial problems, Sarah’s son Andy (Kelvin Fletcher) decided to make some quick cash from an insurance company by setting fire to the Sugden barn.
He didn’t realise his mum was inside the building, and she got trapped in the blaze.
Nine villagers – The shocking 1993 plane crash episode brought in 18 million viewers for Emmerdale.
Mark Hughes was killed by a falling wall, Archie Brooks was burned by jet fuel, Elizabeth Pollard was killed by debris and newcomer Leonard Kempinski died in a car crash caused by the crash.
Five other non-recurring characters from the village also died.
HOLLYOAKS
Carmel McQueen – The talented singer died in shocking scenes when a train crashed into a her family’s car.
Carmel managed to free her cousin Theresa from the rubble – but got stuck in it herself.
Moments later the train exploded and Carmel died in the arms of her family members, promising to be their guardian angel.
“I just stood in the doorway of the green room and just looked at you two.”
“The thing I’m going to miss more than anything in the world isn’t Craig Tinker, it’s the green room.
“I have learned everything about life in that building.”
Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and ITVX.
Craig will bow out in a dramatic exit this summer[/caption]
