Former Coronation Street star reveals cricketing secret at particular house membership occasion

Colson Smith spent 14 years playing the lovable Craig Tinker on ITV’s Coronation Street before the character was brutally killed off last year

A former Corrie fan favourite has revealed which cricketing stars of past and present he would love to see strut their stuff on the famous cobbles.

Colson Smith spent 14 years playing the lovable Craig Tinker on ITV’s Coronation Street before the character was brutally killed off last year. The 28-year-old, who also finished third on the 23rd series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2024, has since swapped the Rovers for the radio, landing a job with BBC Local Radio in Yorkshire in late 2025

Now, you may be able to take Colson out of Corrie, but you can never take Corrie out of Colson and the actor turned presenter was delighted to give his take on which former and current England cricketers would make a splash on the most famous street in Soapland.

“If you’re taking ex-players, Phil Tufnell, 100%,” said Smith. “Tuffers would be unbelievable. And then, if we were to see a star of Corrie from the England women’s side, probably Sophie Ecclestone, because she’s from Manchester, so she’s got the knowledge of the street. She’d stay loyal to her Manchester roots.”

When it came to what job both would have, Smith, whose character Craig played a bobby, continued: “Tuffers would be a cabbie, 100%. He would be the sort of person who picks you up, and you get in the car, and you go, ‘Coronation Street, please,’ and he starts asking you questions, and you just have to go with it. That would be Tuffers, in an absolute heartbeat.

“And what character would Sophie play? I think she would probably be working in Underworld, but I could also see her spending a lot of time in the Rovers, having some fun and giving a bit of gossip in classic soap style. She’d smash it. When she’s retired, maybe she should give it a go, get into acting.”

Smith was speaking at Castleford Cricket Club, where he is the director of cricket, to promote The Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund alongside England women’s head coach Charlotte Edwards. The Fund exists to grow and support the number of coaches of girls’ cricket and to nurture the next generation of female players and coaches coming through.

Castleford CC set up its first girls’ team this year, a feat Smith expressed his immense pride at. “This summer has been brilliant, but it is only the start, and there are good things to come here at Castleford,” he said.

“There would be nothing better if the work we’re doing now produced an England international in the women’s game in 10 or 15 years. It would honestly be so special.”

Edwards added: “Metro Bank is a champion of women’s cricket, and has been for a number of years. To be here and see girls playing all-girls cricket is so important and events like this are going to drive women’s cricket forward.”

By helping more girls access welcoming clubs, supportive coaches and visible role models, the Metro Bank Girls in Cricket Fund gives them more than a chance to play, it helps build confidence, belonging and ambition. Because when girls feel supported in sport, they carry that belief into their lives.