Ee, by 'eck, Coronation Street star's only visited the show's biggest fan...in Dannevirke

Colson Smith, 19, who plays Craig Tinker on Coronation Street, meets the show's number one fan, Dannevirke's Beth Paris, at her home on Tuesday. Photo/Christine McKay

Dannevirke's Beth Paris has watched Coronation Street for as long as we've had television in New Zealand and to have a star of the show in her living room was a dream come true.

"I've watched Coro right from the beginning. From the days when it was on every night, through until now when it screens two nights a week.

"I even sit up and watch it late, but if I miss an episode I catch up when it's repeated on Saturday and Sunday," she said.

Earlier today Colson Smith took over our Twitter account and answered your questions. Here are the results: http://www.itv.com/coronationstreet/social/ask-corrie-with-colson-smith

Posted by Coronation Street on Tuesday, 14 April 2015

But Mrs Paris said it was not often she failed to stay awake until 11 o'clock on Thursday and Friday nights for her favourite programme.

"Coronation Street is the life for a lot of people," she said.

"I have two granddaughters who watch it, but not as religiously as me."

For Mrs Paris, who is likely to be one of New Zealand's most devoted fans of the programme, to have Coro star Colson Smith, 19, walk through her door late Tuesday afternoon was something very special.

Colson has played Craig Tinker on the soap since 2011.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime thing," Mrs Paris said.

"For a young fellow like Colson to bother coming to visit me, well, that's pretty special."

This was Colson's third visit to New Zealand. He first came 10 years ago and again last Christmas. He stopped by Wellington for a visit on March 2.

Dannevirke's Caroline Charlton is Colson Smith's aunt.

His aunt is Dannevirke's Caroline Charlton, owner of Faith on High St and co-owner of the Barrelhouse Restaurant and Bar.

"I have more family here than in England," Colson said.

"I love it here. Going over the Saddle Rd and seeing the hills, it's beautiful."

This is more like it 🏏🔥close to gaining bragging rights on my New Zealand family! #NZvENG pic.twitter.com/786XmeEGAk

— Colson J Smith (@colsonsmith) March 3, 2018

For Mrs Paris, the visit was magic and she couldn't hide her wide smile as she hugged and kissed the star.

So what is the attraction of Coro?

"I just enjoy it and I get quite involved with the likes of Tracey [Barlow]. She's such a naughty girl," she said.

"I do admire an actress taking a part like that, she must get some flak."

Mrs Paris said she also liked all the old characters such as Ken Barlow and Rita Tanner.

"Gail Rodwell [also Potter, Tilsley, Platt, Hillman and McIntyre] makes me angry every now and then," she said. "But you need those types of character in the show.

"Even Sally gets me quite angry at times. But what I find so good about Coro is when they start a new storyline they don't spend months getting to the crunch. That's why I won't miss an episode."

View for the day @ECB_cricket pic.twitter.com/HzKBjs32mw

— Colson J Smith (@colsonsmith) March 2, 2018

But there are the occasional twists that catch Mrs Paris unawares.

"Leeane Battersby and Steve McDonald's one-night stand, that was a real surprise," she said.

And while she remembers early characters such as Ena Sharples and Minnie Caldwell with fondness, Mrs Paris says some of the later characters, "have taken the show to the edge".