Actor Ben Price first arrived in Coronation Street back in 2009 as Gail Platt’s eldest son, Nick Tilsley, and is the third person to play the famous role.
Over the last decade Nick has been caught up in some of the soaps biggest storylines, from being married to Carla Connor for one day, to suffering from a brain tumour, sleeping with his own brother’s wife and almost dying in quicksand.
Here are 10 facts about the actor…
1. Ben’s got strong Northern roots
Ben was born in Newcastle upon Tyne on January 1, 1972, and went on to attend Gosforth East Middle and Gosforth High before moving on to acting at a youth theatre at the Live Theatre in Newcastle.
The actor then moved down south to hone his skills at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London before graduating in 1996.
2. Ben’s a family man
Ben lives with his wife, Alexandra, daughter Paloma and son Max in Bath, Somerset – which means a huge commute to get to the Coronation Street studios in Manchester.
But thankfully Corrie bosses make sure Ben’s filming is squeezed into a few busy days, rather than spreading it out over the week, meaning he is always home for the weekend to see his kids.
Read more: Coronation Street’s current cast list
3. Ben loves being a dad
When Ben took a break from the soap between 2017 and 2018 he left the role of Nick behind because he wanted to spend more time with his kids.
He told dailystar.co.uk: “I only left to go back to my kids, so I took them to school and made packed lunches and became a dad, and didn’t think about Nick Tilsley or the Street.
“I was a stay-at-home dad. It’s pretty unglamorous, it’s just life.”
4. Ben’s been in Home and Away
He might be famous for playing Nick Tilsley for the last 10 years, but Corrie isn’t the only soap that Been has appeared in.
Before treading the cobbles Ben appeared in Aussie soap Home and Away in 1998, playing a character called Geoff Burns.
Ben appeared in the first ever Home and Away episode to be filmed here in the UK, and he played the son of a man called Bill Burns, who showed legendary character Irene Roberts around Ironbridge in Shropshire when she came to visit Marilyn and Selina.
5. Ben’s got a jam-packed acting CV
As well as Coronation Street, Ben is probably most famous for his role as Conrad Gates in Footballers’ Wives.
The ITV drama followed the outrageous lives of the fictional Premier League football club Earls Park F.C, and Ben played Beckham-esque footballer Conrad between 2004 and 2005.
Ben has also appeared in Casualty, The Bill and The Tudors to name but a few.
6. He wouldn’t go back to Footballers’ Wives
There has been plenty of talk in the world of TV that there could be a Footballers’ Wives revival, but Ben has confessed that he doesn’t think he’ll be making a return as his character, Conrad.
Ben told Digital Spy last year: “Would I want to come back? I don’t know. We’re done, aren’t we? I think it was a moment. I know people have talked about it, but it’s a bit of a weird space for me, because I’m in Corrie.
“I’m sure there will be a revival, but I can’t see Conrad coming back.”
7. Ben loves being on the stage
He might have spent a lot of his working career on our TV screens, but Ben also loves treading the boards in various theatre productions.
Over the years Ben has appeared in a number of high profile stage shows like On the Razzle, Dancing at Lughnassa, and Entertaining Mr Sloane.
8. His best friend is Corrie co-star Chris Gascoyne
While they might be arch enemies on screen, one of Ben’s best friends is fellow Corrie actor Chris Gascoyne.
Chris is probably better known to soap fans as Weatherfield’s Peter Barlow, and Ben claims that being best friends off screen makes their rivalry on screen all the more believable.
He once told What’s On TV: “I think that because we get on so well, that’s probably what makes it work. I’m lucky because I get on with Chris and we can play the scenes harder.
“You can actually be sightly nastier because I don’t have to apologise.”
Read more: 10 facts about Jane Danson – the actress who plays Leanne Battersby
9. He’s also a writer and director
– TAUBMAN –
Dir. Ben Price
Starring @JackPShepherd88 & Ian Puleston Davies
UK Premiere Tomorrow @UKJewishFilm #bolofilms #taubman pic.twitter.com/jWhFM9EfZC— Bolo Films (@bolofilms) November 12, 2016
As well as being on one of the biggest TV shows in the country, Ben also owns his own production company called Bolo Films.
His first short film, I’m Sorry to Tell You, was Bafta-shortlisted, but he didn’t stop there.
He has also written and directed other films including Taubman, which features none other than his Coronation Street on-screen brother, Jack P Shepherd, and Hope Dies Last.
10. Ben doesn’t let his kids watch Coronation Street
Ben has admitted in the past that his kids aren’t interested in watching him in Corrie, and he couldn’t be happier.
He told Mirror.co.uk: “I think it’s healthy they don’t watch it. It would be too much otherwise. I’m very proud of the choice of not letting them watch it.”
What is your favourite Nick Tilsley moment from the last 10 years? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think!