What's On in London - April 2003
The Prodigal Son returns! Adam Rickitt talks about his Corrie comeback!.
Ever since he left Coronation Street in 1999, soap fans have been hoping that Nick Tilsley would one day return. And, on 22 July, that day arrives when the character comes back onto our screens in a storyline set to create some waves in Weatherfield.
We caught up with Adam Rickitt, who plays the sexy Street star, to find out exactly what's coming up for him and his character.
"I'm really pleased to be back in Corrie I've had the idea put to me a couple of times before but I couldn't do it because of other commitments. Then when I came back from the States recently, I had a meeting with one of the show's producers, and they suggested returning for a four-week stint. I jumped at the chance. Corrie is the best soap on television, plus I get to work with some fantastic people who I haven't had a chance to see for a while. It wasn't a difficult decision to make in the end."
Although Nick may look pretty much the same, Adam tells us his character has definitely changed - but you'll have to wait and see whether or not it's for the better!
"Nick has definitely grown up since he's been in Canada," reveals Adam. "When he went away he was still a child, as much as he wanted to believe he was an adult. He got himself into some tricky situations and he wasn't mature enough to know how to sort them out.
"Nick has more confidence now and he doesn't feel as if he has to prove himself all the time. He's really excited about coming home to see his mum and family, he left under a cloud but I'm sure that's all been forgotten." Nick's personality may have altered but his knack for attracting trouble certainly hasn't and, on 24 July - his second night home - the lad is mugged for his mobile'
"Nick is obviously gutted," says Adam. "He has come back for his mum's big day and he doesn't want to ruin it by worrying her and telling her he's been robbed. Nick used to end up in more fights than anyone else in Weatherfield and he is carrying on where he left off!"
Despite his shaky start, it's not long before things start looking up again and when he clocks Maria Sutherland, his trip home looks set to improve immediately' "Nick does have a girlfriend in Canada " reveals Adam. "They are supposedly quite settled which is why it's a bit of a problem] when he sees Maria. She knocks him for six, he wasn't expecting to fall for anyone. He was planning on just coming over for the wedding then going back to his new life - seeing Maria changes that. It's a nice thing for me to come back to though, as Nick hooks up with a pretty young girl straight away!"
So apart from Gail and Richard's wedding, and the possibility of romance with Maria, we asked Adam if there was anything else he'd like to see his character get up to while he's back. "I'd like to see Nick come face-to-face with the rest of the Battersbys, as I'm sure they bear a grudge against him for what he did to Leanne. It would be great to have a big fight with them in the Rovers!"
