Colson Smith was ‘taken aback’ when he received an unexpected phone call from a Coronation Street legend following news of his impending departure.

The actor, who plays Craig Tinker, confirmed earlier this year that he would be exiting the ITV soap after 14 years as the policeman.

‘Autumn last year I was told that Craig Tinker’s time on the Cobbles is to come to end in 2025,’ he wrote on Instagram at the time.

‘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.’

It was later reported that his final scenes will see the character go out in a blaze of glory – ultimately resulting in his heroic death.

Police chase scenes were filmed in Salford, suggesting that Craig could die on the job.

Following word of his upcoming exit, Colson received a call from legendary cobbles stalwart Barbara Knox, who portrays Rita Tanner, which the Craig star said left him ‘taken aback’.

‘When everyone found out I was leaving, I had one conversation which I was really surprised by, which was a phone call from a withheld number,’ he said, confirming that the caller was none other than Barbara.

‘She said: “People come and go all the time… and there’s some people who are there who love the show. You’re one of those people and I just want to say thank you for all the time that I’ve spent with you and the way that you treat me”.

Colson added on the On the Sofa podcast, which he co-hosts with fellow cast members Jack P. Shepherd and Ben Price: ‘And I was like: “I appreciated this phone call a lot”.

‘And then she basically said: “Good luck. I really hope that something comes for you”‘.

She also told him to keep in touch via the ‘little one’… Jack.