Former Coronation Street star Colson Smith has opened up about his time on the cobbles, admitting that he “completely disgraced” himself during a recent TV appearance
Former Coronation Street star Colson Smith has candidly admitted “I completely disgraced myself” while discussing a TV role he took on after he was axed by the ITV soap. Having played the role of police officer Craig Tinker since 2011, Colson’s character met a tragic end in the line of duty earlier this year.
In a heart-to-heart with his ex-Corrie co-stars and On The Sofa podcast hosts, Ben Price and Jack P Shepherd, Colson lifted the lid on his appearance on the Weakest Link, marking one of his first moves into TV following his exit from the cobbles. He confessed: “There was one question where I completely disgraced myself.”
Host Romesh Ranganathan set him up with the clue as the actor recalled the embarrassing moment, detailing how it happened during the picture round.
The presenter asked: “On your screen now, Colson, is a tennis player who is named after a planet. What is her name?”
Colson ruefully acknowledged that he now realises it was “obviously” Venus Williams, but at the time, he blurted out Jupiter Williams on the show – a mistake he anticipates will “go viral” when it airs on the BBC.
Initially playing down his performance, he eventually conceded that he wasn’t the first contestant to be shown the door.
Beyond his quiz show endeavours on Celebrity Mastermind and the Weakest Link, Colson has also been spotted guest presenting This Morning and BBC Radio Leeds this summer.
After first setting foot on the Coronation Street cobbles in 2011, he quickly won over viewers with his endearing relationship with on-screen mum Lisa George (who played Beth Tinker), becoming an integral part of the show’s charm.
During his impressive 14-year tenure on the street, Colson has been at the heart of some of the soap’s most memorable plots, including a poignant storyline about his character’s struggle with OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) in 2018.
His most dramatic moment to date unfolded in May when his character attempted to apprehend Mick Michaelis (played by Joe Layton) for drink driving, only to be viciously attacked with a baseball bat, leaving Craig for dead.
Earlier this year, Colson announced his departure from the beloved soap on Instagram: “I’ve loved every single second of my 14 year stay as a resident on the greatest street in the world.”
He continued: “I feel incredibly lucky to have grown up in, on and around Coronation Street. I’ve learnt pretty much everything about life from the people who call it home.”
Coronation Street is set to return this evening (Wednesday, July 30) at 8pm on ITV.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
