CORONATION Street fan favourite Colson Smith has been secretly plotting his future outside of the soap since being axed.
The 26-year-old flew out to Australia at the end of last year with hopes of impressing I’m A Celebrity bosses.
TV insiders say Colson wants to be signed up for the next series – following in the footsteps of his co-star Alan Halsall.
It’s after he was told in autumn 2024 that his character Craig Tinker will soon be leaving the cobbles.
Our source said: “Colson has already had a taste of reality TV after doing Celebrity Big Brother.
“He wants to stay positive about being told he’s leaving Coronation Street and is saying ‘yes’ to new opportunities.
“After the success of his podcast with his soap friends, Colson is keen to continue stepping out from Craig Tinker’s shadow.”
Colson had a month-long break from Corrie last year when he starred in Celebrity Big Brother‘s reboot on ITV last year, finishing in third place.
It followed his successful podcast stint with Coronation Street co-stars Jack P. Shepherd and Ben Price.
On The Sofa proved popular when it launched five years ago – with the actors chatting about their lives, work and everything in-between.
Keen to continue expanding his experience outside of the soap, Colson appeared on ITV2‘s I’m A Celebrity spin-off Unpacked in November with hosts Joel Dommett, Kemi Rodgers and Sam Thompson.
He was the first guest of the series on the launch show – and showed off his personality as he joked about Alan’s height.
Colson made the most of the opportunity of supporting the Tyrone Dobbs actor out in Australia by pitching himself for the next series.
Fans were unaware at the time he was set to leave Coronation Street after 14 years.
It comes amid a flurry of cast exits after the ITV soap was hit by a cash crisis.
Announcing his axe on social media last night, Colson wrote: “Autumn last year I was told that Craig Tinker’s time on the Cobbles is to come to end in 2025.
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap:
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.
“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 learnt 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 just the end of the beginning.
“I genuinely can’t wait to see what chapter 2 has in store for me. LONG LIVE THE COBBLES!”
The Sun has reached out to Colson’s rep for comment.
