Coronation Street favourite brutally attacked and left for dead as actor is axed from the soap
CORONATION Street fans are in for a shock as a beloved character is brutally attacked and left for dead.
The much-loved Weatherfield resident was caught in a violent showdown that left their life hanging in the balance.
Monday’s episode of Coronation Street saw Mick Michaelis go on a furious rampage after finding out 16-year-old Brody might not be his biological son.
Mick turned violent as he demanded answers from wife Lou Michaelis about her past with their former pal, Kit Green.
Corrie viewers got an upsetting insight into Lou’s domestic abuse from Mick – which left the residents on the cobbles worried for Lou’s safety.
Meanwhile, Craig Tinker was determined to prove himself on the first day of his CID training.
He pulled over Mick at the Weatherfield Precinct for drink-driving.
Hellbent on getting revenge on Kit, Mick violently attacked Craig with a bat and left him for dead.
Wednesday’s episode of the ITV soap will see Craig rushed to hospital and desperately try to make his police colleagues aware of who was responsible for attacking him.
Craig Tinker actor Colson Smith said: “I can’t wait for people to see Craig’s final scenes. It is exactly the exit I wanted for him and we are all really proud of what we filmed in those final weeks.
“It was actually great fun. I was walking around covered in fake blood for days and I was chuffed that I got to work with so many brilliant people in this final storyline.”
Back in March, The Sun revealed how Colson’s character Craig would be killed off in a dramatic storyline.
A source told us: “Craig has grown up on the street and he’s become part of it so it was a tough decision to make but one that will be worth it.
“PC Tinker will meet his maker in heroic circumstances this summer and there won’t be a dry eye in the house when it goes out.
“Colson is taking it well and there’s a real feeling that this chapter is closing for him and there are bigger and brighter things ahead.”
Corrie cash crisis: shock exits for 2025
ITV bosses are locked in a battle to save the cash-strapped soap.
This means that a number of stars have either been axed from or have abandoned the long-running serial drama.
Colson Smith – Craig Tinker
The character of Craig Tinker has been axed by bosses after 14 years. After he was told of the news in Autumn 2024, Colson Smith confirmed that would be written out of the show with scenes to air later this year. Craig’s on-screen mum, Beth Tinker, also left the show in the summer when actress Lisa George was written out from the role.
Sue Cleaver – Eileen Grimshaw
After 25 years playing Eileen Grimshaw, former I’m A Celebrity campmate Sue Cleaver will quit the show. The Sun on Sunday reported in January that she’s already begun to film her exit scenes. However the character will not be killed off in case Sue opts to make a return in the future.
Luca Toolan – Mason Radcliffe
Bosses decided to axe the teenage character after just 16 months after he first joined the show. Recent scenes saw Mason stabbed by his criminal brothers after his pal Dylan brought a knife in an attempt to defend him.
Sue Devaney – Debbie Webster
In November 2024, we revealed that Debbie Webster is set to be killed off after 40 years on the cobbles. The character will die as part of a heartbreaking long-running dementia storyline.
Charlotte Jordan – Daisy Midgeley
The actress became the fifth star to leave Coronation Street in just one month. We revealed that she will bow out of the ITV soap later this year after four years on-screen. Charlotte told sources that she’s hungry to see what other opportunities await.
Shelley King – Yasmeen Metcalfe
The actress has played Yasmeen Metcalfe on the cobbles for the past 11 years and we revealed in January that she finished filming her final scenes. This follows the departure of her on-screen partner Stu Carpenter.
The 26-year-old actor was one of several stars who have been axed from the ITV soap.
Corrie is gearing up for a number of exits for some iconic characters this summer, including Eileen Grimhshaw is set to exit the cobbles with actress Sue Cleaver quitting the soap after an incredible 25 years.
The soap has already seen several characters depart the cobbles from the likes of Daisy Midgeley to Mason Radcliffe.
Coronation Street is facing a financial crisis due to soaring production costs, a decline in advertising revenue, and a drop in viewing figures, leading to budget cuts and cast departures.
Consequently, ITV is reducing the length of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale episodes from hour-long to 30-minute installments, starting in January 2026.
This change will create a “soaps power hour” where Emmerdale airs at 8pm, followed by Coronation Street at 8:30pm each weeknight.
But with ratings falling and viewers switching to streamers like Netflix, soap stars are fearing the axe – should they be worried?
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 or stream from 7am on ITVX.