Ben Price, known for playing Nick Tilsley on Coronation Street, shares his life away from the cobbles with his wife Alexandra Wheeler, a fashion stylist and fellow actor. The couple met while working on the play On The Razzle in 2005 and have been together ever since.
Price joined the ITV soap in 2009, taking over the role previously played by Adam Rickitt and Warren Jackson. His character, the son of Gail Platt, has been involved in numerous dramatic storylines, including affairs and the discovery of a secret son. Recently, his on-screen son Sam Blakeman experienced visual hallucinations, leading to a hospital stay. In the July 26 episode, Sam returned home, and Nick was displeased to meet Leanne's new partner Idris Nazir.
Family Life and Fatherhood
Ben and Alexandra have two children: Maximillian and Paloma. When Paloma was born in 2007, Price became a stay-at-home dad. He told The Telegraph in 2009: “I thought that being a stay-at-home dad was going to be easy but, initially, it was isolating and scary. No one trains you for the job. They just say, 'Here's a nappy, off you go.'” He added: “I'll be going back to work soon after the new baby is born and handing over the reins to Alex, but I consider myself lucky to have spent so much time with my daughter. Some dads go all week without seeing their children.”
Christmas Traditions and Career Decisions
In 2021, Price revealed a family Christmas tradition, saying: “I am not a big turkey fan so I like everything else – I like the little sausages, roast potatoes and a bit of pudding. I love lighting the Christmas pudding because each year, it is a nightmare – it either doesn’t go up, or it goes up way too much and everyone gets frightened.”
Price has always prioritised family, taking time off from the soap in 2017. On This Morning, he emotional explained: “I'm going to leave for my family. It's been amazing, I've loved the show. Amazing people, I've had extraordinary storylines and it could not have been any better. I live 200 miles away. I see my wife and children on a Saturday and I go back on a Sunday. It took me quite a while to think about it. It's a big decision, but, in the end, it's my family and I miss them.” A year later, former series producer Kate Oates offered him more flexible hours, leading to his return. Price said: “It was a no-brainer for me. I missed the show, and I missed the cast and crew. [...] It's not always easy, but I'm lucky to have a supportive family and a job that I love. I'm just taking it one day at a time.”
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
