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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

Christine McGuinness 'counting the days' to be reunited with Coronation Street star as he debuts mature new look

Christine McGuinness has admitted that she's 'counting down the days' until she reunited with her Coronation Street star pal Colson Smith. The pair became firm pals after taking part in ITV competition show, The Games, last year.

The show, hosted by Holly Willoughby and Freddie Flintoff, saw 12 celebrities - including Christine and Colson - battle it out in a sporting spectacular event across a week of live programmes. The stars had been trained and coached for the events including diving and weight lifting.

But it all came down to the live show where the celebrities racked up points so that at the end of the competition, the contestants with the most points were awarded either a gold, silver or bronze medal with one male champion and one female crowned the winners of The Games.

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Since then, Christine has remained friends with a number of her The Games co-stars including Colson, who is gamed for playing Craig Tinker in Corrie. Taking to Instagram over the weekend, Colson posted a selfie to his main grid which showed him sporting a new mature look.

The soap star, 24, appears to have grown out his facial hair around his chin and above his top lip. He could also be seen donning a bucket hat and sports jacket after heading out to watch some sporting action himself. "I spent my weekend stressing about 11 of my mates playing cricket wbu?" Colson typed alongside the snap.

And Christine was quick to respond to Colson's question, writing in the comments: "I’ve been busy counting the days to the Chrissie x Colson reunion." The 35-year-old model then added: "Can’t wait to drive you maaadddd."

Corrie star Colson posted the new selfie to Instagram (Colson Smith Instagram)

Christine last publically reunited with Colson back in May at the Pride of Manchester Awards. Following the star-studded event, the mum-of-three showed she had seen the funny side as she was caught in a video dashing off stage after presenting a gong. The former Real Housewives of Cheshire star dazzled as she hit the red carpet at the event at the Kimpton Clocktower Hotel in Manchester.

Christine looked stunning a sparkling backless pale yellow gown which offset her golden tan. She kept her blonde locks down in a relaxed, straight style and chose a bronze makeup palette with a glossy caramel lip gloss for the occasion. And she was one of the many award presenters on the night and got up on stage alongside Labour MP Lisa Nandy and host Kym Marsh as they presented the Special Recognition award to Peter Garsden, a lawyer who has dedicated his career to achieving justice for victims of child sex abuse.

Taking to Instagram the following day, she shared a clip showing her leaving the stage. "Quickest exit off the stage award goes to... Meeee," she wrote with a crying laughing emoji. Christine, who has been open about her autism since her diagnosis at 33, added: "It's always an honour to present an award but WOW my nerves, anxiety and sensory overloads spins my head."

She had also said in a previous video: "I've found this little clip... I literally give the award out and run off the stage," Christine laughed. "I couldn't wait to get off. But I saw loads of people that I love which was amazing. I caught up with Colson [Smith] who I did The Games with, Colson's from Corrie, and I saw Teddy [Soares] who I did The Real Full Monty with.

"I saw Helen Flanagan, I love her! I saw Jenny Powell... I bumped into in Ibiza last week and I saw her last night.l It's kind of like having friends you don't need to keep in touch with which is great for me. But I'm tired now and I'm done with communicating so I'm going to have a nice, gorgeous, quiet night tonight."

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