By Adam Rickitt played Nick Tilsley on and off for seven years on 'Coronation Street'. While played by Adam, Nick married Leanne Battersby, had a gay kiss and turned up to see his mum Gail marry Richard Hillman.
Adam Rickitt being interviewed on ITV's 'This Morning' last November
After Adam left the soap (the most recent Nick is played by Ben Price) he had a pop career, flirted with politics and went to New Zealand to star in another soap, 'Shortland Street'. However, he is presently working as a manager for the RSPCA. Here, he tells Jon Horsley about why he reckons he was awful on 'Corrie', why he dreaded newspapers and what happened to his political career.
So you're a manager at the RSPCA. How did that happen?
I feel you have to be inspired by what you do – whatever it is. Not many people knew that I've been working quietly in PR for about 15 years – even while acting. I'd done some work for the RSPCA and got asked to come in and talk about their Leaps And Bounds campaign (www.leapsandboundsappeal.org.uk), to do some PR and appearances to raise funds for the hospital they're building. It'll be an amazing facility and hospital, the only one in the country. But after I sat down and talked to them about it, I decided I had to do more. I was completely inspired, so I decided to take a year out of my life and become the Campaigns Manager.
Okay – sure. It does appear that you turn your hand to lots of things.
Like I say, you have to be inspired.
So, let me take you back to ‘Corrie’. How did you get the job?
The day I got my A-level results, I told my Dad, who'd slaved to send us to private school, that I wanted to be an actor. Bless him, he didn't break down. He said he'd give me 12 months. I should take a year out and try some acting courses. I'd not been trained at all. So I joined this acting school – and before I'd even had a lesson, they said ‘There's auditions at ‘Corrie’ on Saturday, why don't you go along. You won't get the job but you'll see what the process is like.’ I went and on the way out got a call saying: 'You start on Monday'. I was like 'Oh, sh*t'. I was terrified. I had my stage school in front of 18 million people. Looking back, some of it was absolutely awful.
But you enjoyed it?
Yes, it was amazing. The people are fantastic. In a way, you have to be lovely, because it's such hard work that if you annoy everyone they just won't keep you on. The standard and professionalism is amazing. If you can hack it in soap you can hack it anywhere, you really can. You know your stuff or you drown. In some ways it ruins you for anything else. I've done films since and not enjoyed it nearly as much. You have so much time, standing around. You might shoot 30 seconds in a day. You'll have made 25 minutes in that time on a soap.
Adam Rickitt with 'Coronation Street' co-star Jane Danson in 1998
I've worked for 15 years and the most time I've had off is a month. I've been incredibly lucky. I tell you what though, it's different now. When I was doing it, if you went out, you'd get in the papers. I used to dread picking up the papers on Saturday, to see what I'd been up to. Nowadays they have reality stars who want to get in the paper, so the pressure has gone down a bit.
And then you had the pop career? Any chance of going back to that?
(laughs) No, I think that's better left alone. It was fun though.
So you moved on to politics?
Yeah. I did. I realise that I've had a great life and career and if fate deals you a hand like that, you've got a responsibility to try and make sure other people get the same opportunity.
But it didn't work out...
I was selected as a candidate – and it was hard work. Let me tell you. I don't think people realise how much MPs put into their work. I certainly couldn't do it while I was still acting – so I went to New Zealand to have a last hurrah – three months on ‘Shortland Street’. But I ended up loving it so much I stayed for five years. One day, I may go back to it.
Back on a soap?
Yeah, it was great. The thing about soaps is to a certain extent, it's a blank slate. You can do it by the book, or you can take your character new places. On ‘Shortland Street’ they let me do my own storylines. My character Kieran ran prostitutes, was a drug dealer, sold body parts, messed around with Triads, staged illegal raves and sold weapons. It was awesome. You get a lot of fun playing that kind of thing.
And now you're back and working for the RSPCA...
Yup, trying to raise £3m in one year for this facility. It's a 42,000sq ft development. We need £2m more.
Would you ever go back to Corrie?
It was talked about when I was in New Zealand but I didn't get back. Now, obviously Ben (Price, who now plays Nick Tilsley) is there. Maybe in a different role. Who knows?
You can find out more about Adam’s RSPCA campaign and make a donation by visiting:
www.leapsandboundsappeal.org.uk
Adam Rickitt being interviewed on ITV's 'This Morning' last NovemberAfter Adam left the soap (the most recent Nick is played by Ben Price) he had a pop career, flirted with politics and went to New Zealand to star in another soap, 'Shortland Street'. However, he is presently working as a manager for the RSPCA. Here, he tells Jon Horsley about why he reckons he was awful on 'Corrie', why he dreaded newspapers and what happened to his political career.
So you're a manager at the RSPCA. How did that happen?
I feel you have to be inspired by what you do – whatever it is. Not many people knew that I've been working quietly in PR for about 15 years – even while acting. I'd done some work for the RSPCA and got asked to come in and talk about their Leaps And Bounds campaign (www.leapsandboundsappeal.org.uk), to do some PR and appearances to raise funds for the hospital they're building. It'll be an amazing facility and hospital, the only one in the country. But after I sat down and talked to them about it, I decided I had to do more. I was completely inspired, so I decided to take a year out of my life and become the Campaigns Manager.
[Gallery: The latest soap arrivals and exits]
Okay – sure. It does appear that you turn your hand to lots of things.
Like I say, you have to be inspired.
So, let me take you back to ‘Corrie’. How did you get the job?
The day I got my A-level results, I told my Dad, who'd slaved to send us to private school, that I wanted to be an actor. Bless him, he didn't break down. He said he'd give me 12 months. I should take a year out and try some acting courses. I'd not been trained at all. So I joined this acting school – and before I'd even had a lesson, they said ‘There's auditions at ‘Corrie’ on Saturday, why don't you go along. You won't get the job but you'll see what the process is like.’ I went and on the way out got a call saying: 'You start on Monday'. I was like 'Oh, sh*t'. I was terrified. I had my stage school in front of 18 million people. Looking back, some of it was absolutely awful.
But you enjoyed it?
Yes, it was amazing. The people are fantastic. In a way, you have to be lovely, because it's such hard work that if you annoy everyone they just won't keep you on. The standard and professionalism is amazing. If you can hack it in soap you can hack it anywhere, you really can. You know your stuff or you drown. In some ways it ruins you for anything else. I've done films since and not enjoyed it nearly as much. You have so much time, standing around. You might shoot 30 seconds in a day. You'll have made 25 minutes in that time on a soap.
Adam Rickitt with 'Coronation Street' co-star Jane Danson in 1998Do you still see anyone from those days?
I run into them occasionally. I saw Helen Worth recently. They're great people, honestly.
I've worked for 15 years and the most time I've had off is a month. I've been incredibly lucky. I tell you what though, it's different now. When I was doing it, if you went out, you'd get in the papers. I used to dread picking up the papers on Saturday, to see what I'd been up to. Nowadays they have reality stars who want to get in the paper, so the pressure has gone down a bit.
And then you had the pop career? Any chance of going back to that?
(laughs) No, I think that's better left alone. It was fun though.
So you moved on to politics?
Yeah. I did. I realise that I've had a great life and career and if fate deals you a hand like that, you've got a responsibility to try and make sure other people get the same opportunity.
But it didn't work out...
I was selected as a candidate – and it was hard work. Let me tell you. I don't think people realise how much MPs put into their work. I certainly couldn't do it while I was still acting – so I went to New Zealand to have a last hurrah – three months on ‘Shortland Street’. But I ended up loving it so much I stayed for five years. One day, I may go back to it.
Back on a soap?
Yeah, it was great. The thing about soaps is to a certain extent, it's a blank slate. You can do it by the book, or you can take your character new places. On ‘Shortland Street’ they let me do my own storylines. My character Kieran ran prostitutes, was a drug dealer, sold body parts, messed around with Triads, staged illegal raves and sold weapons. It was awesome. You get a lot of fun playing that kind of thing.
And now you're back and working for the RSPCA...
Yup, trying to raise £3m in one year for this facility. It's a 42,000sq ft development. We need £2m more.
Would you ever go back to Corrie?
It was talked about when I was in New Zealand but I didn't get back. Now, obviously Ben (Price, who now plays Nick Tilsley) is there. Maybe in a different role. Who knows?
You can find out more about Adam’s RSPCA campaign and make a donation by visiting:
www.leapsandboundsappeal.org.uk
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