Coronation Street actor Colson Smith has revealed the crucial detail that led to his character Craig Tinker’s OCD.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is an anxiety disorder where people feel the need to check, perform routines or have certain thoughts repeatedly.
And Colson, who plays Special Constable Tinker in the ITV1 soap, says the catalyst for the disorder in his character was getting a time wrong while giving evidence at the trial of Nathan Curtis who had groomed his now girlfriend Bethany Platt last year.
(Image: ITV/Coronation Street)
“It started from the day of Bethany’s trial,” he explained on the ITV1 chat show This Morning.
“What happened there was the catalyst that started this off.
“He got the time wrong and it started with obsession around time. The starting point is he was drawing 24 hour clocks and then it developed into an obsession with even numbers and then the time he was leaving the house.
(Image: ITV/Coronation Street)
“Now it’s gone into these rituals so it’s slowly grown.”
Colson, 19, appeared on This Morning with OCD sufferer and campaigner Richard Taylor who informed the storyline.
The 25 year old was diagnosed at 15 and had the condition for most of his life without realising.
Richard explained: “For me it came to a head at school where I became worried about touching door handles, walking to and from classes and taking school books home.
He had years of therapy and counselling and is pleased with the way that Corrie is tackling the storyline.
Richard said: “It’s fantastiic. This is a major show that’s going to help so many people. The way Coronation Street has handled it and Colson himself has been amazing.”
After the show Colson tweeted his thanks to Richard, saying: “Thank you to RichBiscuit21 for joining me on This Morning for sharing your knowledge and experience with me over the past few months.”
(Image: ITV)
And praise poured in from viewers.
One fan tweeted: “So happy ITVCorrie are doing a OCD storyline Richard is brilliant “you either have a diagnosis or you don’t” well said sir.”
Another wrote: “I’ve suffered with OCD for a while Colson Smith it’s really not nice…. People can say it’s weird but it’s not… Well done ITVCorrie for portraying OCD.”
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