Former Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt has publicly detailed a painful 15-year feud with his father, revealing that his dad repeatedly "stole" his earnings from the soap opera and other ventures. Now 47 years old, Rickitt first gained fame as a teenager in 1997 when he took on the role of Nick Tilsley on the iconic ITV series, a character originally portrayed by Warren Jackson in 1981.
A Promising Start and a Stolen Fortune
Adam Rickitt played Gail Platt's eldest son for two years initially, later returning to the role from 2002 to 2004, with Ben Price eventually succeeding him in 2009. During his time on the cobbles, Rickitt was part of a landmark storyline: Coronation Street's first-ever gay kiss in 2003, shared with Todd Grimshaw, played by Bruno Langley at the time.
Despite his rising profile and income from acting and a pop music career, Rickitt confessed that his father, Peter, misappropriated his funds. In an appearance on Vanessa Feltz's show, he stated, "If you Google 'Adam Rickitt net worth,' it comes up with a figure; it's not that figure because my dad stole all my money. And he did it three times."
Family Strife and Financial Loss
Rickitt explained that his father was a "very successful merchant banker" earning millions annually but struggled with alcoholism. "I kept lending him money; he kept wasting it, but then he would make money," Rickitt recalled. "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."
The actor eventually reconciled with his father, only to find him "penniless" after falling into debt and losing his home. Peter Rickitt passed away in 2019 after a period of illness. Adam announced the news on social media, posting a heartfelt tribute: "Sleep well, big man."
Life Beyond Coronation Street
After his initial departure from Coronation Street, Adam Rickitt pursued a music career, signing a six-album deal with Polydor Records. His debut album, "Good Times," released in 1999, featured the hit single "I Breathe Again," which peaked at number five on the UK charts. However, after the album reached number 41, he was dropped from the label.
Rickitt continued acting, taking on roles such as Mark Cohen in a UK tour of "Rent" and joining the New Zealand soap opera "Shortland Street" as Kieran Mitchell from 2007 to 2010. Outside of entertainment, he briefly ventured into politics, running as a prospective parliamentary candidate for the Conservative Party in 2005, though he withdrew to encourage youth involvement.
A New Chapter and Musical Comeback
In 2026, Adam Rickitt, who has also appeared in "Doctors" and "Hollyoaks," hinted at a musical comeback with his wife, Katy Fawcett, a Good Morning Britain presenter. The couple shared a clip on Instagram, with Rickitt announcing, "It's time to let the cat out of the bag," as they headed to a recording session. Katy revealed, "He's been re-signed, and he's already been in the studio doing remakes of his older stuff."
Currently, Adam and Katy run a craft beer and artisan gin bar in Knutsford, stepping away from the spotlight in recent years. Despite past hardships, Rickitt remains optimistic about his future projects, describing the journey ahead as "mad."
