*Coronation Street* actor Colson Smith has opened up about an emotional personal storyline that was ultimately scrapped by the show’s bosses, despite months of effort. The 26-year-old, known for his role as Craig Tinker, shared his remarkable weight loss journey in a heartfelt TikTok video, showcasing how he transformed from 24 stone to a healthier 13 stone—an incredible loss of 11 stones.

At his heaviest, Colson felt frustrated with his appearance and approached *Corrie* producers about incorporating a weight loss narrative into Craig’s storyline. However, just as discussions were underway, COVID-19 hit. “I was on shaky ground,” he admitted.

Reflecting on his past struggles with food, Colson described a tumultuous cycle: “I didn’t realize how big I was before COVID; I was so unhealthy. I had this bizarre relationship with food where I would restrict myself and then binge eat out of frustration.” This cycle lasted for about a year until he conceived the idea of linking Craig’s character to an eating disorder connected to OCD—something that resonated deeply with him personally.

“I went to *Corrie’s* bosses and asked if we could explore this story if I lost the weight,” he said. “They were on board initially but then COVID changed everything.”

However, during lockdown while driving back to his parents’ house, Colson experienced an epiphany: it was time to take control of his health. He decided to start running—a pivotal decision that fueled his dramatic transformation from 24 stone (138 kg) down to 13 stone (84 kg) in less than a year.

“I told myself there were no excuses left; now is the time,” he recalled. Initially struggling with it and hating every moment of running, one day something clicked: “I found myself talking while jogging and said aloud—I’m a runner.” From that point forward, running became addictive for him.

Colson attributes discipline in healthy eating and consistent running for helping him shed the weight without even having access to a gym facility. Now committed more than ever to maintaining this lifestyle change as part of his identity—as he fears reverting back—he recently completed his first marathon last month.

In addition to treading the cobbles of Weatherfield daily along with hosting the popular podcast *The Sofa Cinema Club,* alongside Ben Price and Jack P Shepherd—Colson is truly embracing life after transformation!