Nick Tilsley

Nicholas Paul "Nick" Tilsley (previously Platt) is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, most recently portrayed by Adam Rickitt, although he was created and played by Warren Jackson from 1981 to 1996. The role was taken up by Ben Price in December 2009 and he is currently playing him.

Development
Warren Jackson played the role of Nick from infancy to the age of 15. Jackson then had to leave the role to concentrate on his GCSEs. He expected to return after he completed his studies, but new producer Brian Park recast the role with Adam Rickitt.

Rickitt was, similarly to Christopher Quenten around twenty years earlier, a young heartthrob of the Street. Some stories, such as Nick becoming an art model, focused heavily on his looks. Rickitt left the show in 1999 to concentrate on his music career, but made periodic returns until Nick was written out in 2004.

In July 2009, plans were announced to recast the role. In October, Footballers' Wives hunk Ben Price was announced as the new Nick. 

Price said Nick had become harder in his absence from the Street, and he hoped to put his own stamp on the part. 

Early Years
Nick Tilsley was the first-born child and only son of Brian Tilsley and Gail Platt He was born on New Year's Eve 1980, and was known as "Nicky". After his father's murder in 1989, Gail went on to marry Martin Platt two years later and Nicky changed his surname.

Although he got on with Martin initially, he slowly began to regard Brian as the saint his grandmother Ivy Brennan painted him to be, resulting in friction between the pair. Nicky began to rebel, taking up smoking and demanding to be called 'Nick'. When Ivy died in 1995, her will stipulated that Nick must revert to his original surname Tilsley in order to inherit her house. This he did, and the family became embroiled in a row over the property which was still occupied by Ivy's widower Don. Don eventually bought the house from Nick for £12,000.

In 1996, Nick went to Canada. He returned in 1997 to study PE at Tech.

Relationship with Leanne
Nick lost his virginity to Leanne Battersby. Their fling was kept secret, as Nick knew Gail did not approve of Leanne or her family. They chose to elope to Scotland and broke the news to a horrified his horrified mother. They eventually rented a room from Ashley Peacock and tried life as a married couple.

While Nick was at college, his class had a visit from Darren Whately. Nick soon realised Darren had killed his father, Brian. He wanted to make Darren pay, and when he learned Darren was facing parole soon, he began to write under Leanne's name, asking to meet Darren. Darren agreed, and when he was released, went to see Leanne, assuming she wanted him. Leanne was frightened by him and furious with Nick for putting her in danger. Darren attempted to rape her. When Nick told Darren who he was, Darren threatened to kill Nick the same way he'd killed Brian, but then got Nick to realise he was still too young to understand what was going on. Nick told the cops what Darren had done, resulting in another five years in prison.

Leanne's money was not enough for the couple to live on, so Nick became a model for teacher Miranda Peters. Leanne eventually began to suspect him of adultery and confronted him as he posed for Miranda. She left him, even refusing to attend his eighteenth birthday party.

Nick was shocked when Leanne told him of her pregnancy. Miranda told him Leanne should have an abortion, and Nick demanded her to do so. Leanne somewhat reluctantly agreed, and was then upset to learn he had told everyone she'd lost the baby. Nick decided to move to Canada, going on his own when Leanne told him she didn't love him.

2002-2004 returns
Nick arrived for his mother's wedding to Richard Hillman in July 2002. He began a relationship with Maria Sutherland, and she left with him for Canada, but she returned soon after, unhappy with the experience.

Nick returned in September 2003, and became friends with his younger sister Sarah's boyfriend Todd Grimshaw. Todd and Sarah were having problems, and one night, while Nick was asleep, a tipsy Todd kissed him on the lips. This has been called the first gay kiss on Coronation Street, but Nick was in no way receptive to Todd's advances, and was disgusted when Sarah forgave Todd.

Nick found work at Mike Baldwin's factory, Underworld. When Janice Battersby made fun of him, he planted alcohol in her bag and had her fired, but was forced to reinstate her when cleaner Harry Flagg said he had seen what Nick had done. When Janice accidentally started a fire at the factory, Nick saved her, and was hailed for his efforts.

Nick reconciled with Maria, and she moved into his family home at No. 8, although Gail did not care for her. Nick's ex-wife Leanne had recently returned to Weatherfield. She was angry with Maria for sleeping with her sister Toyah's boyfriend, John Lynley. Nick and Maria planned to return to Canada, but Leanne convinced Nick to come by her flat and later sent Maria a photo of the two of them together. Maria dumped Nick and he returned to Canada alone.

2009 return
When Audrey couldn't talk sense to her daughter Gail into not marrying Joe McIntyre, she decided to summon Nick back to hopefully talk some sense into her. Nick met Tina McIntyre in a bar and introduced himself, but she didn't know he had any relations to David or Gail. He told her that he was back to stop his mum marrying a loser. Tina later left the bar, because she was already in a relationship with Jason Grimshaw, whom she'd argued with earlier on.