Corrie star entering Celebrity Big Brother house after huge weight loss

04 March 2024 , 17:30

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Corrie's Colson Smith is rumoued to have signed up for CBB

Cast your mind back 13 years and you may just remember Colson Smith's first appearance on Corrie when he joined the much-loved soap to play cheeky 12-year-old Craig Tinker in 2011 - the son of gobby Beth Tinker played by Lisa George. Fast forward 13 years and he has grown up to become a fine young man and police officer who has also lost an impressive 10 stone.

Die hard Coronation Street fans will have spotted Craig Tinker’s weight loss transformation over the last few years. As a teen he wore 20XL size clothes but went on a weight loss journey during the first lockdown in a bid to turn his life around. Since then he's taken part in ITV's The Games and is set to be entering the Celebrity Big Brother house.

Colson Smith after his impressive weight loss (Colson Smith Instagram)

Colson first got the acting bug back in 2009 after he played Henry VIII before attending drama classes run by Northern Film and Drama. But his early success was always overshadowed by his weight and he remembers being called names. Speaking about his weight loss, Colson said: “I was always the fat kid. In most of my social situations, social circles, that's just who I was.

“And it's kind of the identity that I ended up with. I made that conscious decision. I was ready to kind of change that identity and I was ready to move on from it." When he decided to embark on a weight loss journey in 2019, he spoke to Corrie's bosses first so any change to his appearance could be incorporated into the show. Then he changed his diet and began exercising in a bid to lose the fat.

Colson first appeared on the Cobbles as a cheeky teen (ITV)

Although his name has not yet been confirmed for the next series of Celebrity Big Brother starting on tonight, a Big Brother spokesperson said: "Colson's character Craig is a huge favourite with soap fans and he's just as likeable and down to earth in real life so don't be surprised if he ends up winning the whole thing. He's got all the ingredients of a Celeb BB champion. Any names are at this point pure speculation."

Corrie's Sue Cleaver says I'm A Celebrity stint helped her to push boundaries

One thing that has been confirmed is that the 24/7 live stream will be returning, giving viewers the opportunity to watch all the live house action seven nights a week. Hosted by AJ Odudu and Will Best, : Live Launch will soon reveal the new cast of famous faces who are entering the iconic house, as they embark on the ultimate social experiment and become isolated from the outside world.

Celebrity Big Brother is starts on ITV on Monday March 4 at 9pm.

Jackie Annett