Adam Rickitt

Adam Peter Rickitt (born 29 May 1978) is an English actor and singer.

He portrayed the part of Nick Tilsley on the British soap opera Coronation Street from 1997 to 1999, and again from 2002 to 2004.

Rickitt auditioned for the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 1997.

He did it as a Joke?, having never watched an episode, and his agent said that he would not get it.

Alone, he released Good Times (1999) through Polydor Records, an album that spawned the UK Top 25 singles "I Breathe Again", "Everything My Heart Desires", and "The Best Thing".

However, he was cast in the role of Nick Tilsley and remained on the soap until 1999, returning briefly in 2002 and for a longer spell from 2003 to 2004.

Rickitt left Coronation Street in 1999 to start a music career.

He signed a six-album deal with Polydor Records, although he only released one album - Good Times (1999).

Rickitt's first single, "I Breathe Again", reached number five in the UK and was certified silver by BPI.

The album peaked at number 41 on the UK Albums Chart.

Rickitt was then dropped.

His other credits include the BBC's Doctors (2001; 2016; 2023).

Rickitt had a musical career, both as a solo artist and as a member of 5th Story, a supergroup formed for the ITV reality series The Big Reunion.

Rickitt starred as Mark Cohen in the 2001 UK tour of Rent, before moving to London's West End.

His most famous and controversial storyline was in 2003, when his character was involved in the series' first gay kiss with Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley).

He attempted to embark on a political career within the Conservative Party in 2005, but has since denounced the party's views.

Rickitt was born in Crewe, the youngest of four brothers who grew up in Cuddington, Eddisbury.

His father was the co-owner of an estate agency.

Rickitt was educated at Sedbergh School, a boarding school in Cumbria.

Rickitt has spoken publicly about suffering from bulimia in his teenage years and about how male sufferers have largely been neglected.

Prior to his acting career, Rickitt was briefly a child model.

He subsequently modelled for magazines including Attitude and Cosmopolitan.

He made a return to the London stage to star in Bill Kenwright's production of Office Games, followed by a new play, Final Judgement, and also appeared in Nick Moran's play Telstar on UK tour in 2005.

In October 2005, Rickitt was approved as a prospective parliamentary candidate for the Conservative Party.

He was asked into politics as a way of getting young people engaged in voting and admitted that he had no real intentions of progressing far.

In February 2006, he appeared on the political debate show Question Time as the non-partisan guest.

In May 2006, he was one of 100 would-be MPs chosen for the Conservative party A-list.

The following month, he appeared on Sunday AM with Andrew Marr.

He attended national and local Conservative party functions in the hope of being selected as a candidate.

Alongside David Cameron, he also provoked the anger of Sir Nicholas Winterton when it was revealed that Rickitt was being tipped to stand for the safe Conservative seat of Macclesfield, which the outraged Winterton had represented for over thirty years.

Winterton responded that he had no intention of standing down from this seat: "I wish Adam luck, but there are no vacancies here."

Rickitt was unsuccessful in progressing his political career.

In March 2006, he took part in the Channel 4 reality series The Games.

He took part as a replacement, after the scheduled contestant, Goldie, had to pull out, following an accident.

Rickitt himself sustained two black eyes after over-rotating off the diving board.

In December 2006, Rickitt appeared in his first pantomime, Cinderella, in the role of Prince Charming at the Norwich Theatre Royal.

He later joined the New Zealand soap Shortland Street for a three-year stint between 2007 and 2010.

According to his website, in July 2007, he decided to continue his acting career in New Zealand rather than seek selection as a candidate.

Rickitt joined the cast of the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street in early 2007, portraying the role of Kieran Mitchell, with his first appearance being shown on 16 March 2007.

From 2017 to 2020, he appeared as Kyle Kelly on Channel 4's Hollyoaks.