Former Coronation Street actor Adam Rickitt has publicly disclosed the devastating financial betrayal he suffered at the hands of his alcoholic father, who he claims systematically "stole" his entire television fortune. The 47-year-old star, best known for playing Nick Tilsley on the iconic British soap, opened up about the painful 15-year feud with his late father during a candid appearance on Vanessa Feltz's television programme last Friday.
A Promising Career Derailed by Family Betrayal
Despite beginning his career as a child model and landing the coveted Coronation Street role in 1997—initially applying as a joke—Rickitt's early success was undermined by his father's actions. He starred on the soap for two years before departing to pursue music, but the financial rewards from both ventures were repeatedly siphoned away.
"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," Rickitt revealed during the emotional interview. "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."
The Pattern of Financial Exploitation
Rickitt described his father as a "very successful merchant banker" who earned millions annually but was simultaneously a "flaming alcoholic." The actor explained how he repeatedly lent money to his father, only to see it wasted rather than repaid. "He'd never spend it on his family or pay me back," Rickitt stated, detailing how his father would instead lavish funds on friends, ultimately leading to their prolonged estrangement.
The reconciliation eventually came when Rickitt's father was left "penniless" with his home repossessed due to crippling debt, highlighting the tragic consequences of the father's financial mismanagement.
Musical Comeback Amid Personal Revelations
This revelation comes shortly after Rickitt announced his return to music, having signed a new record deal and returned to the studio. His wife, former Good Morning Britain presenter Katy Fawcett, shared their excitement in an Instagram video, noting that Rickitt has been "popping up doing a few gigs since Pride last year."
Rickitt's initial music career saw moderate success with his 1999 debut single "I Breathe Again" reaching number five on the charts, accompanied by a memorable video featuring him naked in a glass box. His solo album "Good Times" peaked at number 41 in the UK before he was dropped from his label.
A Career of Varied Pursuits
Beyond acting and music, Rickitt's career has included a brief political foray as a prospective Conservative Party candidate in 2005—though he admitted this was primarily to encourage youth engagement—and multiple soap opera returns, including stints on Coronation Street, New Zealand's Shortland Street, and Hollyoaks.
In recent years, Rickitt and his wife have stepped back from the spotlight to run Dexter and Jones, a craft beer and artisan gin bar in Knutsford. He has also been vocal about his mental health struggles, revealing he battled anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts from age 13 to 30, and was scammed out of "tens of thousands of pounds" in a sophisticated bank fraud in 2023.
Reflecting on his new musical chapter, Rickitt expressed optimism: "Now I'm older and this isn't gonna get any better. It means I can do something and actually enjoy it this time and I can do it with you and that will make it worth doing."
