Adam Rickitt Opens Up About Father Stealing His TV Fortune
Former Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt has publicly revealed that he lost the substantial fortune he accumulated from his early television success, alleging his alcoholic father "stole" his money multiple times. The 47-year-old actor shared these personal details during a recent appearance on Vanessa Feltz's television show, shedding light on his tumultuous family dynamics and financial struggles.
Financial Loss and Family Strife
Adam Rickitt, who rose to fame in the late 1990s portraying Nick Tilsley on the long-running ITV soap, explained that much of the income he earned at the peak of his career never remained in his bank account. 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. So, even though I was 18 years old and did Corrie and did the pop music and money was coming in, it kept just going to him, and he kept losing it."
He described his father as a once highly successful merchant banker who earned millions annually but battled severe alcoholism. This addiction, according to Rickitt, led to the family's breakdown and repeated financial mismanagement. The actor recounted, "My dad was a very successful merchant banker, he was pulling in millions of pounds a year himself. But, he was also a flaming alcoholic. 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."
Long-Term Rift and Reconciliation
The financial disputes resulted in a 15-year estrangement between Rickitt and his father, with reconciliation only occurring when his father's circumstances drastically changed. Rickitt noted, "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, because he couldn't prove anything anymore." He confirmed that his father is now deceased, adding that the situation was not surprising to those close to him.
Reflecting on their relationship, Rickitt emphasized that while it healed to some extent, it was never fully repaired. He drew parallels to other public family rifts, saying, "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."
Insights into Father's Motives
During the interview, host Vanessa Feltz questioned Rickitt about his decision to reconnect, given his father's actions. Rickitt explained that he came to understand his father's behavior was not driven by malice but by deep-seated personal issues. He shared, "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."
Music Comeback Amid Revelations
These revelations emerge as Adam Rickitt prepares for a return to the music scene, over two decades after his brief pop career. In 1999, he released his debut single I Breathe Again, which peaked at number five in the UK charts and featured a controversial music video. He later released the album Good Times, reaching number 41 before being dropped by his record label. Now, the actor has announced he is back in the studio recording new material after securing a new record deal, marking a potential revival of his entertainment career.
