Despite losing an incredible 10 stone after taking up running during lockdown, Colson Smith has revealed that he still sees himself as the “fat kid”.
In an interview with Runner’s World, Colson, who plays police officer Craig Tinker on ITV’s Coronation Street, opened up about his self-image confidence battle and the trolling he received growing up in the public eye.
He said, “My first runs were in the witching hour, pitch black, I had a snood and a cap on. I did not want to be seen.
“But then you see other people who look like you, who are in the same position as you, and the inhibitions start to run off. Running does give you confidence. You're not doing it for anyone else, and no one else is going to do it for you. Once you have that idea in your head, you're on to a winner.”
Colson continued, “Being the kid who was on telly definitely put a target on my head. I got a hard time at school. I got a hard time for my job, and a hard time for the way I looked, so it was the worst of both worlds.”
CHECK OUT! A brief history of Steve McDonald and Tracy Barlow's relationship on Coronation Street
A brief history of Steve McDonald and Tracy Barlow's relationship on Coronation Street (slider)
1 of 9Steve, Karen and Tracy's love triangle
After initially being married to Karen, Steve had a one night stand with Tracy after he and Karen separated in 2003.
2 of 9Tracy reveals Steve is the father of her baby
She revealed Steve was the father on his ACTUAL WEDDING DAY to Karen when they decided to give it another go, which left Karen distraught but she forgave him and they got on with their lives.
3 of 9Tracy gets pregnant
Tracy then became pregnant, and for some strange reason we can't quite remember pretended it was ROY'S baby (why oh why). She gave birth to her baby, whom Roy named Patience (bleh) but was renamed Amy when Tracy decided she wanted to give motherhood a go.
4 of 9Karen and Steve break up
...Or tried to, but Tracy was determined to split them up because she secretly fancied him. She was finally successful a year later and they gave things a go.
5 of 9Tracy and Steve date
But their romance is short-lived when Tracy discovers that he's only dating her to get custody of Amy.
6 of 9Steve marries Becky
It all goes a bit quiet for Steve and Tracy as Tracy is sentenced to 15 years in prison for killing her abusive boyfriend Charlie, and Steve marries Becky. But Becky and Tracy obviously don't see eye to eye and end up fighting ALL THE TIME.
7 of 9Tracy gets pregnant with twins
At some point during all this, Steve and Becky break up and Tracy gets pregnant with Steve's baby AGAIN - but this time it's twins. Sadly, Tracy suffers a miscarriage but pretends to Steve that Becky pushed her down the stairs and caused it.
8 of 9Steve and Tracy divorce
So close, but yet so far! Steve and Tracy do marry, but Becky gets ahold of Tracy's medical records which prove she did not cause the miscarriage and they divorce a year later
9 of 9Tracy and Steve are friends... Or are they more?
Fast forward through the Michelle years and Steve and Tracy are FINALLY in a good place, and can call each other friends. But is there more to this than meets the eye?
Although he’s now back at work, Colson still intends to continue his morning runs saying, “Doing that morning run meant I had achieved something every day, even when work wasn't happening. I had 40 minutes to an hour to talk to myself, go over my to-do list in my head.
“Then you're on a buzz because you've done a run and you're one step ahead of yourself.”
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There will also be an interesting development in the relationship between PC Brody and James after he apologies for racially profiling him plus, newbie Leo and Daisy flirt up a storm even though she has her heart set on Daniel.
It’s all happening on Corrie…