10 Totally True Facts About… Ben Price (Corrie’s Nick)
lnsidesoap YOUR BRIEFING ON THE MAN BEHIND THE STREET’S NICK…
1 Ben Price was born on 1 January 1972 in Birmingham, but his family moved to Newcastle when he was nine. He then headed to London at 19 to study acting. “I come back home to the north east once or twice a year,” says Ben. “It’s got an incredible coastline and countryside. I miss it, but I needed to get out to become an actor.”
2 Ben reveals fellow Geordie Robson Green inspired his acting career. “He was the first lad from the local theatre scene that I saw on TV, so I thought this could happen,” he shares. “Growing up in the north gave me more determination. I thought, ‘If I’ve come all this bloody way, I’m really going to make it work!’”
3 Ben lives in Somerset with his wife and kids. He met fashion stylist Alexandra Wheeler when starring in a play, and the pair wed in 2005. They have two children, Paloma and Maximillian. The star quit Corrie in 2017 for a year to spend time with his family. “I only left to go back to my kids,” says Ben. “I took them to school and made packed lunches and became a dad, and didn’t think about Nick Tilsley or the Street.”
4 Ben won the role of Corrie’s Nick Tilsley in 2009. Nick was previously played by Adam Rickitt (now Hollyoaks’ Kyle), and Ben was 37 when he took over the part of 29-year-old Nick. During Ben’s time as Nick, his alter ego has romanced Carla and Eva, and also rekindled his love for ex-wife Leanne. Nick was embroiled in a feud with brother David that climaxed in a car crash – leaving Nick with a brain injury. More recently, he was ostracised from his family after swindling his gran Audrey. “I like him, but I wouldn’t be his friend – he’s an idiot!” says Ben of Nick. “I like that he’s got to that stage in life where you don’t care so much and you’re like, ‘Actually I’m just going to go for myself’.”
5 One of Ben’s best-known roles prior to Corrie was as star player Conrad Gates in Footballers Wives. Conrad’s life came to an end in series four when he was accidentally shot and killed. “People thought I was slimy like Conrad, but I’m not at all,” exclaims Ben. “In real life I’m fairly normal, I’ve got my family and my kids. People expected me to send them nude photos of myself!”
6 The Street isn’t the only soap that Ben’s been in. In 1998, the star appeared in Home and Away – but he didn’t get to jet off to Australia. Instead, while playing Geoff, Ben showed Irene around Shropshire when she visited England, and fancied his chances with Summer Bay teen Selina Cook.
7 Between 2005 to 2007, Ben played Casualty’s Nathan Spencer, the corporate director of Holby City Hospital and a stickler for the rules. He made few friends, but dated Doctor Selena Donovan – alas tragedy struck when she was shot dead while heavily pregnant with their child.
8 Throughout his TV career, Ben has taken on some good advice. “My very first job was on a show called Underworld,” he shares. “And I worked with Alun Armstrong from New Tricks. He said to me, ‘All you’ve got to do is to make your own tea!’ And that you should never get too carried away with yourself – it was very good advice, and I’ve kept it close to my heart over the years.”
9 There’s one star Ben would love to join the cobbles – Dame Judi Dench. “I’d put her in the Kabin,” he laughs. “Can you imagine how brilliant that would be? The three of them – Norris, Rita, and M from the James Bond movies! I’d pretty much like everyone who’s been in a Bond film to come into the Rovers for a pint.”
10 Ben’s a film buff and produces a movie podcast with Corrie co-stars Colson Smith (Craig) and Jack P Shepherd (David), in which they review films – everything from The Godfather to Mamma Mia! He’s also directed short films, which have been shown at many film festivals.