He is best known for his roles as Dave Lister in the science fiction sitcom Red Dwarf and Lloyd Mullaney in the soap opera Coronation Street (2005–2015).

After finding fame in Red Dwarf, he regularly featured on national television with celebrity appearances on many popular shows while he continued to host a wide variety of programmes.

His acting credits include playing inmate Eugene Buffy in the ITV drama The Governor, and leading roles in the British films Fated and Clubbing to Death.

[6] Upon leaving school, Charles spent time working in a studio at Central Hall on Renshaw Street in Liverpool.

In 1981, Charles climbed on stage at a Teardrop Explodes concert and recited a humorous, but derogatory, poem about the band's singer, Julian Cope.

He performed poetry reading poems by Vladimir Mayakovsky, W. H. Auden and E. E. Cummings,[8] at Liverpool's Everyman Theatre (1983), with such poets as Roger McGough and Adrian Henri.

[6] Charles was involved in the Liverpool music scene, writing and singing lyrics for a number of local rock bands.

In 1983, Charles was invited to record a session on the John Peel BBC Radio show, performing his poems backed by a band.

He was part of the Red Wedge comedy tour in 1986, which aimed to raise awareness of the social problems of the time, in support of the Labour Party.

[16] Charles first appeared on television as the resident poet on the arts programme Riverside on BBC2 and on the day-time BBC1 chat show Pebble Mill at One.

Charles' first television acting role was the Liverpudlian slob Dave Lister in science fiction comedy series Red Dwarf starting in 1988.

He was introduced to the show by Saturday Live and Red Dwarf producer Paul Jackson, who wanted his opinion on whether the black character Cat was a racist stereotype.

[24] Charles provided the English voice-over commentary for the Challenge (2002–04) rebroadcast of the popular game show Takeshi's Castle, originally by Tokyo Broadcasting System in Japan.

In each episode, between 100 and 142 contestants attempted to pass a series of wacky and near-impossible physical challenges to reach the Show Down at the castle against Japanese actor Takeshi Kitano for a chance to win large cash prizes.

He provided comedy insights into the contestants' abilities, which were designed to appeal to adult audiences, as well as younger viewers – and also coined the term "Keshi Heads" to describe fans of the show.

[25] In 2005, Charles joined the main cast of Coronation Street,[26] playing a philandering taxicab driver, Lloyd Mullaney.

[27] Charles introduced aspects of the character himself, making Lloyd a Northern Soul DJ and record collector, and funk music enthusiast.

Charles played the emotionally disturbed and violent prisoner, Eugene Buffy, in the highly successful Lynda La Plante drama series The Governor (1996); the title role in the Channel 4 pirate sitcom Captain Butler (1997);[32] the warden of a women's prison in the Canadian sci-fi fantasy Lexx (2001);[33] Detective Chief Inspector Mercer in seven episodes of the BBC soap opera Doctors (2003); and soccer agent, Joel Brooks, in the Sky TV football soap Dream Team (2004).

[32] He was the travelling reporter for the highly acclaimed, but controversial, BBC 'mockumentary' Ghostwatch,[32] which tricked viewers into believing it was a live investigation into ghost sightings in a suburban home on Halloween night (1992).

[32] Since 2002, Charles has been a DJ on BBC Radio 6 Music presenting The Craig Charles Funk and Soul Show, on air on Saturday evenings 6 pm to 9 pm, where he plays a diverse range of funk and soul music, from classic tracks to the latest releases, and provides publicity for less familiar bands.

From 16 April 2016 until 18 June 2022, Charles presented the House Party on Saturday nights on BBC Radio 2, with the show airing between 10 pm and midnight.

[46] Charles has a regular slot at Butlins Minehead House Of Fun Weekend every third November for three nights, of DJing, Comedy, Twanging and singing.

Roles in short films include playing Keith Dennis in the comedy The Colour of Funny (1999) and Mark in the drama Ten Minutes (2004).

In 1998, Charles published No Other Blue, a collection of his poetry, with illustrations by Philippa Drakeford, on diverse personal subjects including prison, his mother's final illness, love and politics at home and abroad.

In 2007, he announced he would release his autobiography, planned for March 2008, published by Hodder Headline and titled On the Rocks, which would cover the recent incidents in his life and be based on much of his journal, which Charles said he kept while in rehab.

[51] Charles was remanded in custody for three-and-a-half months before being granted bail, during which time he was assaulted by a man wielding a makeshift knife.

[51][53] He stated: "The fact that my name and address along with my picture can appear on the front of the papers before the so-called 'victim' has even signed a statement proves that anonymity for rape defendants is a must and that the law must be changed.

[54] In June 2006, newspaper allegations of crack cocaine use resulted in Charles being suspended from both Coronation Street[55] and BBC Radio 6 Music.

In August, Charles was arrested and released on bail pending further enquiries, and in September he accepted a caution for possession of a Class A drug.