fans were gobsmacked after noticing Craig Tinker's striking new look on the ITV soap.
Colson Smith, who has been portraying Craig since 2011 when he was a mere 12 years old, has won over viewers and become an adored staple among the soap's dedicated followers.
Craig has been central to major plotlines, from his career in the police force to his string of doomed love affairs on the cobbles. His character was recently rocked by the departure of his mother Beth (played by Lisa George), who left Weatherfield after a tenure of 13 years.
Moreover, Colson himself has experienced a remarkable personal transformation, reportedly shedding more than 10 stone thanks to his passion for running.
Yet, it was Craig's fresh appearance that sparked conversation amongst fans. In the episode aired on Friday (October 12), Craig was seen at the police station, diligently working on the Joel Deering (portrayed by Calum Lill) investigation.
Sporting a bold new hairdo during the episode, Craig surprised viewers with a sleek skinhead style. This drastic change in hairstyle quickly became a hot topic among the audience, reports .
On social media platform X, one viewer exclaimed: "Craig can't walk in with a hairstyle like that without warning." Another responded: "I watched via ITVX and had to pause to be like WTF."
A third fan added their thoughts, saying: "Nice seeing Craig with a different hairstyle for a change." Meanwhile, another was left bewildered, commenting: "What the bloody hell has happened to Craig Tinkers hair."
Colson shed an impressive 10 stone after committing to a healthier lifestyle, embracing running and a dedicated gym regimen. He opened up about his physical transformation in the revealing 2022 YouTube documentary titled 'Bored of Being The Fat Kid'.
Discussing his journey with Runner's World, he revealed: "I was always the fat kid. It's kind of the identity I ended up with. I was ready to kind of change that and move on from it."
Moreover, during an interview on This Morning, Colson disclosed that he had been portraying the same role on Coronation Street since the tender age of 11. He shared that, in collaboration with the show's producers, they agreed to incorporate a weight loss storyline for his character, Craig.
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX
