SOAP KILLER LAYTON MAKING DRAMATIC CORRIE EXIT

Corrie cop killer Joe Layton has been forgiven by Colson Smith for killing off his beloved character PC Craig Tinker in a violent attack with a baseball bat.

- BY SUE CRAWFORD

The same cannot be said for fellow Weatherfield residents, whose lives will be in danger next week when Joe's character Mick Michaelis runs amok on the cobbles after a dramatic jail break.

As he tries to snatch his kids and flee abroad, Mick lands DC Kitt Green in hospital, needing lifesaving surgery.

Joe who is leaving the ITV soap, says of Colson, 26: “He was such a positive energy and for the other cast and crew there’s obviously a massive Colson-sized hole everywhere at Coronation Street.

“But we had a good chat when we first met and continued to chat.

“We were both Leeds United fans, so we bonded over that pretty quickly. And I was just struck by what a lovely warmhearted person he is.

“He never made me feel in any way shape or form: 'I'm doing this bad thing to this popular character.”

Monstrous Mick has had Corrie fans on the edge of their seats since he first stepped on to the street in February.

But Joe, 33, who was spotted by a US agent at the age of 22 and moved to the States where he spent six years after being promised Hollywood fame says his younger self would have turned the role down.

Joe, who returned to Britain five years ago, says: “If you'd asked me when I moved to America if I'd ever do a soap, I think I'd have said 'no'. No disrespect to soaps, but I didn't think they were for me.

“I'm just so happy that I was offered the role in Coronation Street when I was. I'd grown up a bit and my attitude towards work had changed.