Coronation Street star Colson Smith, who plays Craig Tinker, has been axed after 14 years.
But the actor is taking it well, assuring everyone that he is excited for the future and promising a ‘brilliant’ exit for his copper character.
The dispatch comes amid a wave of cast changes under new producer Kate Brooks.
Following the exit of Gail Platt (Helen Worth) after half a century, Metro exclusively confirmed the end for Sue Devaney’s Debbie Webster, who will battle dementia over the next year in a powerful storyline.
Meanwhile, Sue Cleaver confirmed she is leaving her Eileen Grimshaw role after 25 years.
And Kate told us that there are others to come, saying: ‘There are a few exits this year, and some unexpected ones that will send shockwaves.
‘People might not expect the exits, but there are a few.’
Having joined the show as a child, Colson – also known for a stint in Celebrity Big Brother – will say his goodbyes in coming months.
The actor told MailOnline: ‘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.’
He recently confided that the show was forced to ditch a planned eating disorder story for Craig due to the Covid restrictions.
In 2021, he revealed to The Mirror that he used to ‘self-harm’ with food and ‘didn’t see how much damage’ he was inflicting on himself.
He told the publication: ‘My routine (before) was very difficult as I kind of left my parents at 17 to live in Manchester, which was away from home.
‘And when everyone else was at uni, I’m sat on bloody Deliveroo every night. So I kind of had got myself into a really unhealthy position where food was a self-harm to me.
‘It was my comfort and I didn’t realise how much damage I was doing to myself with it.’
The final scenes for Craig will play out later in the year.
