Adam Rickitt, who played Nick Tilsley in ITV’s Coronation Street from 1997 until 2004, has opened up about his late father and their 15-year feud before his death
Adam Rickitt, who played Nick Tilsley in ITV’s Coronation Street from 1997 until 2004, has opened up about his late father and their 15-year feud before his death
Joe Crutchley Screen Time reporter
22:46, 05 Mar 2026Updated 23:01, 05 Mar 2026
Former Coronation Street actor Adam Rickitt has opened up on his complicated relationship with his late father. Adam portrayed Nick Tilsley in the ITV soap, making his first appearance in 1997 and it’s safe to say he quickly became a hit with viewers.
He decided to depart the show in 1999 to chase a pop career but made a return to the cobbles for a two-year run from 2002 to 2004. Since his departure, Adam has remained active, featuring on shows such as Hollyoaks and BBC’s Doctors.
However, during a recent guest spot on Channel 5’s Vanessa, Adam candidly delved into his relationship with his late father, confessing he “stole all of his money”. He stated: “You Google Adam Rickett Networth, it comes up with a figure. It’s not that figure because he stole all my money and he did it three times”, reports the Mirror.
He continued: “So even though I was 18 years old and Corrie and doing the pop music and money was coming in, it kept just going to him and he kept losing it.
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“And then when he made money, because my dad was a very successful merchant banker and he was pulling in millions of pounds a year himself, but he was also a flaming alcoholic.” When host Vanessa Feltz enquired if his father was still alive, he confirmed he isn’t, before revealing: “It’s not like it’s a shock news to anyone anyway.”
Adam went on: “But yeah, so I kept lending him money, he kept wasting it, but then he would make money and rather than paying me back, he’d go and spend it on his friends. He’d never spend it on his family or pay me back.”
“So we ended up falling out for 15 years and we only reconnected when he went from earning millions of pounds to living on a state pension and penniless, having his home repossessed because he had nothing to prove anymore.
He added: “And I would say it healed. It was never repaired. And I think when you have a big rift, like the Brooklyn and David Beckham situation, I think they will reconnect. I don’t think it’ll ever be the same relationship they had before. Mine with my father certainly wasn’t.”
Vanessa then enquired: “Did you want to reconnect with him?” Adam responded: “For a long time, no. ” The presenter pressed him: “I would wonder why you did, because it sounds as if he played fast and loose with your money in an incredibly selfish and kind of toxic, narcissistic, unpleasant kind of a way. It wasn’t an accident.”
When questioned why he chose to reconnect with his father, Adam clarified: “Because at some point you realise he’s still a human being. I think when you have a parent, they’re your parents and they’re meant to be some almost, you know, godlike idol who are meant to be perfect.
“The reason my dad was the way he was, was because he was an unwanted child and he was made to feel unwanted. And then he realised the only way his family ever needed him was when he paid for everything for them.
“And then when I went out at 18 years old and became financially independent, he was petrified because he couldn’t have any control on me. So he purposely blew all my money.”
Vanessa asked: “Did you have to have loads of therapy to find out that or did you just work that out yourself?” Adam replied: “No, I just worked it out to myself.
“When you finally saw him as a human being and realised he wasn’t doing it because he hated me. He wasn’t doing it because he wanted to ruin my life. He was doing it because he was a petrified little boy. He was still the four-year-old boy.”
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX
