Can Nick Tilsley survive his quicksand encounter? Ben Price revealed he would be leaving the soap back in January, so is this his final episode?

Coronation Street stalwart Nick Tilsley will be seen fighting for his life in Wednesday night’s episode of the hit soap.

A teaser clip released by ITV shows the long-running character desperately struggling after getting stuck in quicksand at the beach as water rises up to his neck.

He's portrayed by Ben Price, who revealed he was leaving the cobbles in January in order to spend more time with his family.

Nick first appeared in the ITV show in 1981 and endured a furious argument at the beach in Tuesday night’s episode with fiancee Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson).

The cafe owner was seen on the deserted beach screaming for help moments after the row.

Father-of-two Ben, 45, has appeared as Nick since 2009 and was commuting from London to Manchester for the role.

He told the Daily Mirror in January: “Coronation Street has been the most significant part of my career and I have had a fantastic seven years here.

“The decision to leave is purely personal, I want to be able to spend more time with my family.”

The trailer also teases the ongoing grooming storyline with Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) being dragged away from party by her boyfriend Nathan Curtis (Chris Harper).

Fan are still reeling from the return of Denise Osbourne (Denise Black), who appeared on the doorstep in a shock comeback in Tuesday night’s episode.

The Twitter reactions to the trailer were mixed. One user said: "I really hope Daniel doesn't do anything bad. I really like Daniel and @Rob_Mallard is one of the best actors I've seen. Well done."

Another fan of the show added: "A terrible way for him to be written out of @itvcorrie couldn't he leave in a taxi like everyone else?"

Others Twitter users commented on the change in location for the filming.

The Corrie Twitter account confirmed that the quick sand scenes were filmed in Arnside near Grange-over-Sands. Twitter users quickly added their opinions on this.

One user said: "Funny to see two different beaches used. St Annes for group shots and Morecambe Bay for quick sand stuff. Mountains are the giveaway!"

Another joked: "So when Nick sauntered off in a strop from St. Annes he wandered forty miles to Morecambe?"

Coronation Street screens on ITV at 9pm tonight

A dysfunctional family day out at the seaside ends badly for Nick Tilsley. Ben Price opens up about his dramatic exit from the Street…

We’ve known for a while about Nick Tilsley leaving the Street, but not how it would happen. Turns out it’s a first for Corrie!

"After rowing with dad-rivals Steve and Peter, Nick storms off to a deserted area of the beach to try to get his thoughts together, but then suddenly waves wash in and sinking sand begins to swallow him up," Ben Price told Soaplife. The tide has turned.

First up, can you tell us a bit about the day out at the seaside? “It’s a weird one. Nick suggests it, but not for happy family reasons. He’s hoping Steve or Peter will mess up, but Nick only ends up exposing his own personality flaws and issues. That’s when he storms off.”

 Is he planning to kill himself? “Not at all – although he doesn’t like what he has become. He just wants to get away from everyone, but hasn’t bargained on the tide or the quicksand. He’s strayed onto a very dangerous part of the beach without realising.”

How did you feel about your departure storyline when you were told that it involved being stuck in quicksand? “A bit surprised and wanted to know how it tied into everything that has been happening to Nick. But it does tie in brilliantly. Psychologically Nick is losing it – losing his perspective over the whole situation with Steve and Oliver, and he also feels second best where Simon’s concerned. He loves both boys, but can’t stand having their real dads in his life.”

 Yet it’s Steve and Peter who try to rescue Nick… “Yes. Would Nick do the same for either of them in the circumstances? I doubt it. Steve and Peter undoubtedly have their faults, but neither is as calculating and nasty as Nick can be – and Nick knows this.”

What were the scenes like to film? “Very good because it was tough and cold – I really was in the sea rather than a tank in a studio. We had the coastguard there, and they were amazing. I felt perfectly safe but I knew I didn’t have very long to do the scenes so we had to get it right.”

Can you tell us a little about your decision to leave? “It’s based on wanting to spend more time with my family. I live a couple of hundred miles away from Manchester and was away most weeks for many years, but now it’s time to be home. Of course I agonised over it as I’ve had the best time of my career here, I’ve had the best storylines and worked with the best family so it was tough to decide to leave all that behind.”

Are you taking anything with you? “Nick’s Crombie coat if they will let me – that’s the only thing I want.”

Nick's life is on the line after Leanne learns about his latest vendetta against Peter in Corrie

When Leanne eventually calms down following Nick's meddling in Peter and Toyah's deal to buy the Rovers off Steve, she's determined they should all bury the hatchet and orders them to meet her in the Bistro.

Nick arrives with Simon and, in an effort to impress Leanne, suggests they put their differences aside and all have a day out at the seaside instead.

But after they arrive, a kick-about on the beach quickly descends into a petty squabble… Will the situation escalate into one that ends up costing Nick his life?

Nick's alone and in deep trouble… Will anyone hear his cries for help?

Nick's alone and in deep trouble… Will anyone hear his cries for help?

Earlier, after arriving at the seaside and having some fun on the beach, a squabble develops between Nick and Peter… and Leanne is within earshot.

How will Leanne react when she hears Nick reveal to Peter that he knows her alibi for him on the night of Ken's fall was a lie because he saw Peter himself that night?

Realising that Nick could have cleared Peter's name but chose to keep quiet, Leanne heads home, leaving the men to sort out their differences…

Following another exchange of words with Peter and Steve, a dejected Nick is left alone, looking out to sea…

After trudging along the beach, Nick suddenly finds himself sucked into quicksand. His cries for help go unanswered, then he drops his mobile!

Up to his waist in it, a panicking Nick realises he's sinking FAST… Will he be rescued?Watch Coronation Street on ITV from Monday, May 29

Jealous of Leanne's relationships with Peter and Steve in Corrie, Nick seeks relief from the bottom of a whiskey glass...

Ever since Oliver was born in Corrie, it's been hard for Nick knowing that he's not his real dad and that Steve McDonald is.

He reached boiling point recently when he blamed Steve for Oliver getting seriously ill. Added to that the fact that Leanne seems to have an unbreakable bond with her ex, Peter Barlow, and it's a love quadrangle that Nick does not want to be a part of!

Feeling helpless and unloved, Nick drowns his sorrows

Feeling helpless and unloved, Nick drowns his sorrows

Earlier, after deciding that Oliver should have a naming ceremony, Nick half-heartedly invites Steve

Is this Nick's way of showing Steve that he's in charge when it comes to Oliver?

Sensing he's not really welcome, Steve declines the invitation

Meanwhile, Leanne and Toyah visit Chloe and try to get her to drop the assault charges against Peter. What would Nick say if he knew Leanne was doing all this for her ex?

It's the day of Oliver's naming ceremony, but when Nick finds out what Leanne has done, he knows where her true loyalties lie, and he finds solace in a glass instead of toasting Oliver

David urges him to stop wallowing in self-pity and be grateful for what he's got. Will Nick listen?

Liz is furious to discover she wasn't invited to her grandson's ceremony and drags a reluctant Steve along

Will the Tilsleys and McDonalds ever put on a united front for the sake of Oliver? Watch Corrie on ITV from Monday, May 15

As Ken comes out of his coma, he's shocked to discover that one of his own offspring could have been responsible. But who could it be?

Suffering from concussion, broken ribs and a punctured lung, Ken is shocked to learn that the police have launched an investigation into his attempted murder in Corrie and have placed the entire Barlow clan, (as well as Phelan and Sinead), under suspicion!

So who could have done the dirty deed and will an incriminating voice message put Peter in the frame?

Nick plays the incriminating voice message in front of Peter and a horrified Toyah.

Nick plays the incriminating voice message in front of Peter and a horrified Toyah.

Earlier, Ken regains consciousness and is shocked to learn that a family member could have been responsible.

Learning that he's been named in Ken's will…

…a nervous Adam blackmails Rosie into giving him an alibi.

Peter retrieves Simon's confiscated mobile when he learns that an incriminating voice message has been left on it.

Frustrated that he can't access the phone, Peter smashes it up...

… and when he retrieves the SIM card, he cuts it up. But is this the end of his worries?

A heartbroken Sinead drowns her sorrows as she continues to blame Ken for her decision to have an abortion…

…then she alarms Beth when she wishes Ken dead!

corrie, soap spoilers

After launching her attempted murder investigation, DS Mckinnon refuses to let the family see Ken…

…but she wants to speak to Daniel alone.

Tracy is shocked to learn she's been cut out of Ken's will…

…and confronts Adam, who has been named in the will.

Peter is terrified when Nick plays the incriminating voice message…

...which convinces the family that Peter attacked Ken! Watch Coronation Street on ITV from Monday 2 April.

Trapped Leanne Battersby has to rely on her stepsister Toyah when her waters break in Coronation Street

Given their acrimonious relationship, it's hardly like that Toyah would be the person Leanne would pick as her ideal birth partner in Corrie – especially if she were stuck in a lift at the time.

But the bickering stepsisters have to face exactly that situation when Leanne's waters break at the worst possible moment.

Once the baby arrives, there's another awkward moment to confront when Michelle insists on seeing the new-born – unaware, of course, that her husband Steve is the tot's dad!

Trapped together in a lift at Victoria Court, Leanne and Toyah start to panic when Leanne's waters break!

Trapped together in a lift at Victoria Court, Leanne and Toyah start to panic when Leanne's waters break!

Earlier, Toyah had followed her stepsister into the lift to accuse her of making insensitive remarks

With the lift alarm not working and no phone signal, the situation is looking serious for the pair!

When Leanne's contractions increase, she hangs on to Toyah, while Rana shouts up instructions from the lobby

With the baby having arrived, emotional Michelle is thrilled for Leanne and insists on seeing the tot

Leanne tries to conceal her guilt as Michelle – who recently lost her own baby – gazes at the little boy

It's clearly a difficult moment for Michelle – who is still oblivious to the fact Steve is the dad!

Later, Gail puts on a party at the bistro to celebrate the birth – and it proves unforgettable! Catch all the drama on Coronation Street, ITV, from Monday, February 20

Ben Price, who has played Nick Tilsley for seven years in Corrie, is quitting the ITV soap this summer, citing personal reasons

Coronation Street actor Ben Price has quit the soap to spend more time with his family.

The actor, who plays Nick Tilsley in the ITV series, said that he left with nothing but good memories, but wanted to focus on his personal life.

Ben, who commutes from London to Manchester for the role, told the Daily Mirror: “Coronation Street has been the most significant part of my career and I have had a fantastic seven years here.

“The decision to leave is purely personal – I want to be able to spend more time with my family. I have been supported by a terrific cast and crew and have had the most glorious storylines and for that I am most grateful.”

Father-of-two Ben, 45, has been in the soap since 2009 and has had a long-running storyline with Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson).

The soap pair are currently preparing to welcome a baby. Nick knows he is not the real father but Ben’s exit storyline, set for early summer, is thought to be linked to other characters discovering that Rovers Return barman Steve McDonald is the dad.

Coronation Street executive producer Kieran Roberts said: “We fully respect Ben’s decision to leave Coronation Street. As Nick, he has been at the centre of some of the biggest plots of the last seven years.

“He is a valued member of cast who will be greatly missed, but we still have many months of great storylines with him, leading to his dramatic exit later this year.”

Fed up with Nick's behaviour, Peter warns him he'll spill the beans about the real identity of the father of Leanne's baby

Nick was none too pleased when Peter returned out of the blue a few months back, and is jealous of the close bond that still exists between Leanne and her ex in Coronation Street.

So when Peter hears of Nick's latest plan to stop him being with Leanne by taking her and son Simon to live in Scotland, Peter flips – and vows he'll humiliate Nick by revealing that Steve is actually the father of his and Leanne's unborn baby!

Peter knows Nick and Leanne's secret, and he's not afraid to publicise it

Peter knows Nick and Leanne's secret, and he's not afraid to publicise it

Earlier, Nick and Peter's squabbling had led to Simon getting a nasty injury

And when Simon turns to Peter for comfort, it only adds to Nick's hatred of his love rival

Meanwhile, Liz is mortified when a Moses basket she ordered for baby Ruariri arrives, so she suggests that Leanne should have it instead

How will Nick feel about the gift?

How will Nick deal with Peter's threat to reveal the father of Leanne's baby?Watch Corrie on ITV from Monday, January 23

Nick’s paranoia over nemesis Peter Barlow threatens to jeopardise his future, Corrie actor Ben Price tells Soaplife…

Nick’s paranoia over nemesis Peter Barlow threatens to jeopardise his future, Corrie actor Ben Price tells Soaplife…

Why is Nick so convinced that Peter is up to no good? “I actually think Nick has reason to suspect Peter’s motives and it’s a feud that can go on forever – they don’t like each other, they know how to rub each other up the wrong way and they’re like chalk and cheese.”

 Does he doubt the strength of his relationship with Leanne? “He knows very well that relationships can go wrong – he was going to remarry Leanne before but it didn’t happen, then it all went wrong when he married Carla Connor. He’s been unlucky enough to know that things don’t always work so I think it’s understandable he worries.”

There’s an altercation when Peter picks Nick and Simon up in his cab – what happens? “They start winding each other up. Nick’s struggling to find his place with Simon. He is not his father, but he provides for Simon and he is a stable man for him. Peter is Simon’s father, but he’s not a great father, so both Nick and Peter are coming at it from different angles with Simon in the middle. ”

Does Nick resent Peter being Simon’s real dad? “Peter doesn’t realise what he’s got – he’s had so much and thrown it away and continues to throw it away, but he always gets what he wants. Nick wants so much, but is always unlucky. But, in the end, Peter is Simon's father and Nick has to realise that.”

Does he worry he’ll be humiliated if the truth comes out about the identity of the father of Leanne’s baby? “No, he has been humiliated enough – the Tilsley-Platts are very good at humiliation. Nick’s worries run deeper – that he could lose Leanne, lose the baby and be on his own again.”

How does Nick feel when Peter reveals he knows about Steve and the baby? “Angry because he knows Peter will use it against him. Now, that is humiliation to Nick because it is Peter getting one over on him.”

What is going through his mind as he comes up with a plan to move to Edinburgh, with Simon and Leanne in tow? “He comes up with this plan to give Simon a better life. It is also to test Leanne a bit, but it is a selfish move.”

Does Nick wish he’d never got involved with Leanne’s baby lie? “No, because he loves her and always has. It is true when he says he will always be there for her.”

Nick’s bistro war with Robert in Corrie comes to an end as they share the business. But for how long?

Corrie’s Nick is still bitter about Robert having his bistro and has a wicked plan to put him out of business, Ben Price reveals to Soaplife.

What Nick does is shop Robert to the police for drink driving, right? “Yes. Nick’s still in real pain over what happened with Carla [Alison King] and so he wants to ruin Robert [Tristan Gemmill], get him out of the way, and reclaim his bistro. Nick feels Robert’s got hold of the bistro under false pretences. Nick wants it back and when Robert doesn’t play fair, Nick thinks, ‘Well fine. I’ll just ruin you instead!’ It’s a collective collapse - a little nail in the coffin. Nick hopes this will be the beginning of Robert’s demise.”

How does Leanne react to what he’s done? “Leanne [Jane Danson] is sick of Nick and Robert trying to score points off each other. She’s not that attached to Robert but is worried about Nick – the revenge thing isn’t good for him. Ultimately, she wants the best for Nick and she can see this is affecting him. Nick always listens to Leanne – she’s smart, good at what she does, and Nick knows that. They care for each other a great deal, so when she tells him to stop all of this with Robert, he knows she’s trying to save him.”

What happens next? “Robert and Nick eventually agree to split the Bistro 50/50 on the basis that Leanne agrees to come back to work, too. I think Nick just accepts it and thinks he will squeeze Robert out altogether eventually.”

Coronation Street, ITV

Coronation Street star Ben Price talks film directing, why he runs to deal with work stress and his close relationship with co-star Jack P Shepherd

To Coronation Street fans he’s messed-up Nick Tilsley, but Ben Price is also a family man, a keen runner, writer, and a director, with a film going to the 2017 BAFTAs! Soaplife got all the details...

So all the running Nick does in Corrie is no act? “I’ve just been out for a run. The more intense Nick’s storylines are, the more I go running. Being inside his brain-injured head for so many hours a day, you find yourself getting locked in to being scared, angry, frightened and tearful. That kind of intensity really takes it out of you and running is my way of dealing with that. I’m normally out at 6.00am, or I nip out between scenes, like I just did.”

Have you run any marathons? “Yeah – quite a few. I come from Newcastle and have done the Great North Run 15 times. My mum lives next door to the route.”

Do your family watch Corrie? “No. They don’t want to watch it. My kids [Paloma and Max] are nine and seven, and they’re not particularly interested. I think that’s quite healthy. The last thing I want to do is talk about work when I’m with my wife, Alexandra, and family.”

You write and direct short films, too, don’t you? “Yeah. I’ve just finished my second one, which has got Jack P Shepherd (Corrie’s David Platt) in it, and is about a Jewish man who’s trying to get a passport. I found out my family were Jewish and they changed their name. So I started to formulate what it means to change your name because of your religion. The film’s called Taubman.”

Ben directs Jack and Ian in his film, Taubman

Didn’t your first film feature Ian Puleston-Davies, who played Owen in Corrie? “Ian’s in Taubman, too, but, yes, he was in my first film. That one’s called I’m Sorry To Tell You... Ian plays a doctor who has to give a terminal cancer diagnosis. You don’t see the patient, the camera’s just close-up on him. As he’s going through this, you realise that he, too, has had cancer. The film opened the Manchester Film Festival, has been screened at festivals in London, New York, Barcelona and Berlin, and is about to go to the BAFTAs for 2017.”

Congratulations! Do you see this work running parallel to your Coronation Street career? “They seem very positive here about me doing it, so yes. It gave me – and Jack and Ian – the chance to do something completely different. For me, that meant being behind the camera rather than in front of it.”

Are you able to switch off at the end of the day? “Not immediately. Me and the kid, Jack, usually have a cup of tea together and talk it out before we leave. We really are like brothers.”

Coronation Street, ITV

Coronation Street’s Ben Price tells Soaplife that Nick’s in bits when he realises there’s no way his wedding to Carla can go ahead…

Why is the wedding off?

“There is a massive bombshell at the wedding and, although Nick starts the day thinking he and Carla [Alison King] have sorted everything out and that they’ll live happily ever after, that so doesn’t happen.”

Is this bombshell that we think it is?

“Could be one of many. Have a think... Carla slept with the chef, she made Nick sell the bistro, she used her own money to try to pay Tracy off… They’re all pretty big bombshells.”

And Nick can’t forgive her?

“I think that if he’d found out early enough he might have been able to live with what Carla’s done. He knows the kind of woman she is – she’s feisty, complicated, she drinks and gets pushed into a corner. It’s not black and white …”

What do you mean?

“Well it’s not like, ‘Oh my God, she slept with the chef!’ What happens at the wedding, how it happens and Nick’s reaction is not necessarily as obvious as the audience may expect.”

You’re talking in riddles a bit!

“It’s ultimately about truth – that is what Nick is concerned with. He says to Carla, ‘Where’s the truth? If you have to be pushed into a situation where you’re forced to tell me, where is the honesty? You have lost the truth. You are lying.’ He tells her that if you love someone, you have to be truthful. But Tracy [Kate Ford] is very good at manipulation and Carla is very scared.”

Could Nick react violently at the wedding?

“No – it’s more about heartbreak than anger. Nick feels totally broken. He’s going to be in a bad way, feeling he’s lost everything – apart from his family, that is.”

Will ex-wife Leanne help Nick over his heartbreak?

“I think Leanne is still the love of Nick’s life, but we’ll have to wait and see about that. Certainly I’d love to work closely again with Jane Danson [Leanne].”

Coronation Street, ITV

Nick tells Carla he can’t marry her because of his brain injury, as Corrie star Ben Price reveals to Soaplife…

Did Nick always expect his health problems to return?

“Yes, but only when he was much older. It’s his greatest fear he’s now going to be like this for ever. He decides he has to handle it alone, away from Carla [Alison King] and his family. He’s aware his life will change and he expects to be on his own.”

When does he tell Carla?

“After his disastrous stag night, he feels he can’t burden Carla with his blackouts and rages. He thinks she should be with a well man, someone who can care for her in the way she deserves, and Nick believes he’s no longer capable of being that man.

"Carla reacts badly, as you’d expect. She’s annoyed and angry because she doesn’t know the real reason, and she thinks there’s something else going on. She wonders if he’s found out about her one-night stand with Robert [Tristan Gemmill]. Nick’s got no idea about the lengths she’s been going to in order to make sure this wedding goes ahead.”

Will Carla be able to change his mind?

“She’ll try to convince him and maybe he’ll think if he can get away from the street and all the stress, sell up and start a new life with Carla, then maybe it will be all right. He wants it to be OK, but he fears the worst.”

We know they’re not going to walk off into the sunset together because Alison is leaving!

“I’ll miss Alison so much. The laughs, the crying… all of it. You become meshed in this relationship, which is so important because you work so closely together. It’s fantastic for Ali that she’s going off to do different things. But, for me, it’s very, very sad.”

Coronation Street, ITV

There's trouble in paradise when Nick calls off the big Corrie wedding

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Carla and Nick should be looking forward to one of the happiest days of their lives. Instead, it looks like their wedding won't be happening

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Earlier, Carla's excited as her mates from the Street – all wearing Carla-style wigs and dresses – take her to a club for her hen night

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In high spirits, the girls approach the DJ, each wanting to say a few words about Carla…

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At the head of the queue are a rowdy Kate and Gail, with Carla looking on in disbelief…

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Carla thinks it's funny when the tipsy hens start wrestling over the DJ's microphone…

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When the scuffle starts to get out of hand, Carla makes herself scarce

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Now Kate and Gail have gone too far and the club manager is on his way to intervene…

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A legless Kate ends up sprawled on the dancefloor

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Meanwhile, Nick's not looking forward to his stag do in the Rovers after getting bad news from the hospital about his brain injury…

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When Nick takes a turn for the worse at the Rovers, he stuns David and Robert with an announcement

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He makes a dramatic decision – the wedding is off! Watch the drama on Coronation Street on ITV from Monday, May 9

Nick Tilsley and Carla Connor (Alison King) together forever? Not going to happen… Ben Price, who plays Nick, has as good as said so in a recent interview.

“Nick is now the guy no one can look after,” says Ben.

But does Carla turn her back on him – or does he push her away?

There was a brief moment when it really looked like Nick and Carla could make a happy couple.

Now, watching them prepare to get married is like watching a car crash in slow motion… They’re already in a skid and desperately trying to get things back on track.

But they can’t.

Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) knows about Carla’s night with Robert Preston (Tristan Gemmill) and could still blow the whistle… Unless Carla tells Nick herself.

But what would that stress do to brain-damaged Nick?

“Their wedding’s coming up,” says Ben in a recent interview. “Nick is extremely excited and extremely stressed.”

Carla doesn’t know that he’s suffering badly again from his brain injury.

“He’s not told Carla about his symptoms returning because he doesn’t want to worry her unnecessarily,” says Ben.

“But the more stressed Nick gets the more he finds himself in a place where he can’t control himself.”

In this week’s episodes, Nick goes to see the consultant.

Nick gets bad news at the hospital

“I get worried and the whole vicious cycle starts all over again,” Nick tells him. “I need to know what’s wrong.”

“It’s very tricky with the consultant. Extremely tricky,” adds Ben.

“Nick pushes for tests to be done immediately and he does lose it. He wants to know that what happened with Leanne [when he hit her] was a one-off and the consultant doesn’t say that.

“When Nick realises he is going to be this man for the rest of his life, that is hard to take.

“He was the guy who looked after everyone and now he’s the guy who no one can look after.”

Only David (Jack P Shepherd) knows Nick is suffering so much again and he has been sworn to secrecy.

“Nick keeps losing his temper out of all proportion to what’s going on,” Ben continues.

“Then there’s a scene with Carla where he loses it again after burning his hand with some boiled water.”

Nick lashes out – and Carla is hurt

He smashes a glass and a piece hits Carla in the face, cutting her.

“It shocks her. I don’t think she has ever seen that side of Nick,” says Ben.

And what side of Nick will she see if she tells him about that night with Robert?

Coronation Street continues on ITV, Monday, May 2, 7.30pm.

Nick may be forced to reveal his problems when he inadvertently hurts Carla on Corrie

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It's his fiancee, Carla, in the firing line when Nick loses it this week!

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Earlier, it's not good news when worried Nick visits his consultant about the return of his temper issues

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The doc can do a scan but, given Nick's brain injury, it's impossible to give an exact diagnosis

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Nick's anxious about uncontrollably lashing out at Carla, the way he did with Leanne

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After a frustrating and emotional day, Nick later scalds himself while making tea and hurls the mug at the wall in a rage

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Carla is hurt in the collateral damage of Nick's outburst! Will he be honest with her about his problems? Watch Coronation Street on ITV from Monday, May 2

As the effects of Nick’s brain injury reappear, Coronation Street’s Ben Price talks to Soaplife about the return of violent Nick…

When do we see Nick turn violent again?

“The first real sign is when Nick really loses it with the girls who are bullying his niece, Bethany [Lucy Fallon]. That takes him completely unawares and it worries him.”

What causes this outburst?

“Nick’s a bit lost now he no longer has the bistro – and this feeling is made worse when he hears his new restaurant purchase in Devon has fallen through. He feels like he’s losing control and Nick is a man who must have control of his life. He’s scared of his reactions.”

Does he feel resentful towards David for causing his injury?

“I don’t think he does. They talk about it, actually. He feels he’s a grown-up and, after all, he did sleep with Kylie [Paula Lane]. Nick asks David [Jack P Shepherd] not to say anything. He doesn’t want people feeling sorry for him and he doesn’t want Carla to know. He’s not sure what to do."

Where does Nick go from here?

“Right now Nick’s panicking he’ll lose Carla and their wedding because he can’t control his reactions to things. That really scares him. His injuries are coming out gradually, where he’s getting a bit snappy and his patience goes. Like others who have had this kind of head injury, it could affect him for the rest of his life. I don’t know if that will mean it all collapses.”

Will he let rip when the inevitable happens and he finds out about Carla and Robert (Tristan Gemmill)?

“I’m sure he will. But I think he’ll get past it. He’ll think about it and get angry, then he’ll go, ‘Well, who am I? Not Mr Perfect’.”

Coronation Street, ITV

Coronation Street’s Nick Tilsley is in for a shock when Carla Connor proposes, Ben Price tells Soaplife...

There’s no doubt that Nick’s loved up with Carla, and he’s sure it’s mutual but, nevertheless, her sudden proposal of marriage takes his breath away… “Carla just blurts out the marriage proposal and Nick’s taken aback because he didn’t expect it – then she gets embarrassed and takes off before he can give her his answer,” says Ben.

Nick and Carl seem very happy together…

“They are. Nick really loves Carla [Alison King]. He loves her edge and recognises she’s a bit broken and damaged, and he wants to be the man that Peter [Chris Gascoyne] wasn’t.”

So why hasn’t he proposed?

“It’s early days! He loves Carla and wants to spend the rest of his life with her, but she’s not always the easiest person to read. Also, Nick’s been married before – he’s been burned and just wants to take it slowly.”  

How does he feel when Carla does the asking then?

“He’s a bit taken aback. While he does ultimately want to marry Carla, he didn’t expect her to propose. He thought, when it happened, it would be him doing the asking.”

But just after Carla pops the question, his sister Sarah (Tina O’Brien) is run over!

“And Nick’s unable to think about anything else. He rushes to hospital and this does give him time to think. When he returns to the Street, he finds Carla and says that of course he will marry her.”

What would marriage to Carla be like?

“I would like it to be a love story and for Nick and Carla to have a family. He’s always wanted children of his own.”

How will his family react to the news that he’s marrying Carla?

“Gail [Helen Worth] will never be happy about any woman Nick is involved with, but I think they’ll all see her a bit damaged. On paper, Carla’s very successful, but she is broken. In the end I hope his family will be happy for him, but maybe they can see that he’s not as so strong as he thinks he is.”  

What did you think when you first heard that they were going to get together?

"I wanted it a while back, not that I have any say, but I just think they’re a natural fit - two business people, two people who’ve done quite well, two people who are a bit lonely and a bit broken…”

Coronation Street, ITV

In a tragic twist to Friday night’s Coronation Street, Erica Holroyd (Claire King) miscarried the baby she was having with Nick Tilsley (Ben Price).

The utter heartbreak was plain to see on both their faces.

But Nick was already conflicted about his relationship with Erica, as he’s found himself falling heavily for Carla Connor.

So, where does this leave Erica now?

As she lay in her hospital bed, trying to come to terms with her loss, Erica told Nick to go home. “I’ll be fine,” she insisted.

And Nick left her.

Is this the end of their relationship? We know Alison King, who plays Carla, is taking a break from Corrie later this year, so there will be no long-term happiness with her for Nick.

And will Erica really be OK - with or without Nick?

She looked utterly devastated and lost after her miscarriage.

Just how hard will the loss of her baby hit her?

Very hard, we think, watching this clip…

Coronation Street continues on ITV, Monday, June 29, 7.30pm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWAnwtqQlR8

Erica wants Nick’s baby but heartbreak looms for them, reveals Coronation Street’s Claire King…

These aren’t happy times for Erica, even though she’s pregnant. She’s just hit the big 5-0 and is still in shock about having a baby. On top of that, it’s clear her baby-daddy - Nick - has eyes for another woman.

“Nick throws Erica a surprise birthday party but she’s very touchy about her age,” says Claire. “Erica’s also aware Nick has feelings for Carla and she’s threatened by this.”

Does Erica want to be a mum?

“She’s drifted through life not being a mother, but because Nick [Ben Price] is actually embracing Erica’s pregnancy, she’s excited too, even though she’s of a certain age.”

So are they giving things another go?

“I’m not entirely sure and I’m not sure they are! One minute they’re saying, ‘Let’s keep it casual’, the next Nick’s saying, ‘Lets make a go of it’. Then he’s yearning for Carla [Alison King] and flirting with her. But Erica’s starting to have more feelings for Nick…”

She’s not happy about his surprise birthday party, though, is she?

“She can’t handle it. She wanted to do something quiet, plus Gail [Helen Worth] has another go at her because of the baby, and the gossips are out in force. She ends up leaving her own party early.”

But the next night is even more horrendous, isn’t it?

“Erica’s at the Rovers Quiz Night and starts getting a few twinges in her tummy. By the end of the evening she’s in a lot of pain and Liz [Beverley Callard] tells Nick to get Erica to hospital.”

How worried is Erica?

“She’s hopeful everything will be fine, but deep down she’s worried she’ll lose the baby.”

And Nick?

“This brings them closer together because it’s really just the two of them going through it. He’s stood by her so far and he supports her at the hospital.”

Coronation Street, ITV.

Ben Price tells Soaplife that Nick’s shocked then delighted when Erica returns to Coronation Street - and tells him she’s pregnant!

Nick and Carla’s blossoming romance is nipped in the bud when Erica returns with some big news for Nick: she’s pregnant. “He immediately decides he’ll definitely be there for her,’ Ben tells Soaplife.

Has Nick always wanted to be a dad?

“Yeah, totally. He always wanted his own little family. When he was with Leanne [Jane Danson], he had this image of them with a baby, but that didn’t work out. Once he gets over the shock of Erica being pregnant, Nick’s delighted at the prospect of being a dad.”

What about Carla in all this?

“It’s tricky. He really likes Carla [Alison King]. She’s strong and independent and, like him, she’s been through a lot. She’s also funny and gorgeous and, yes, Nick really fancies her. They’ve been taking things slowly, each waiting for the other to make the first move. But Erica’s news changes everything.”

How does Carla react to Erica’s pregnancy?

“She tells Nick to go for it. She realises nothing will now happen between them, and seems to just brush it off. Nick’s a bit gutted because he can see how good they would be together. But Erica [Claire King] and the baby have to be his priority.”

We think Gail might be a bit trickier…

“She hates the fact Nick has had a fling with Erica and she’ll go mad when she hears Erica is pregnant. Gail [Helen Worth] hates Erica! She’ll never accept her in the family. Gail assumes every woman is out to trap Nick and there’s no female in the world good enough for her boy!”

Coronation Street, ITV.

Photos of the key moments in the upcoming week's Coronation Street

Coronation Street star Ben Price wants to see his character Nick Tilsley hook up with Carla Connor.

Viewers have seen a friendship building between Nick and Carla, and now Ben has hinted it could be leading to something a lot deeper.

He told the Radio Times website: “I would love to see something happen between Nick and Carla. Being two business people, they could make for a bit of a power couple.”

The pair previously co-owned the local underwear factory, Underworld, but have yet to be romantically involved.

Carla Connor and Nick Tilsley have become closer (ITV)

Nick and Carla have both had their fair share of heartache on the show. The bistro owner’s rocky marriage to Leanne Battersby ended in divorce, and his most recent fling with Erika Holroyd was never more than a bit of fun.

Knicker queen Carla has struggled with the breakdown of two marriages.

Now they're both on the market, are sparks about to fly between the two entrepreneurs?

“He definitely fancies her,” Ben said. “And I’m massively excited about doing anything with Ali King.”

Coronation Street’s new addition Claire King reveals to Soaplife that Erica is a woman who loves men - and the younger the better!

Heads turn when sexy, sophisticated Erica arrives on the Street. She’s a mate of Liz McDonald (Beverley Callard) from Spain and is supposed to be visiting her mum in Preston, but she’s made a detour to Weatherfield – and stays after she meets Nick. “They get talking in the bistro, have a few drinks and a few laughs, and there’s a definite attraction between them – the fact he’s some years younger than her doesn’t matter, they’re both adults and fancy having a good time together over Christmas,” Claire tells Soaplife. But is it just a festive fling or the start of something more serious?

So, what’s Erica like?

“She’s quite tough and straight-talking, with a great attitude to life – she intends to enjoy it to the full. She also has a good sense of humour and likes a drink. Gail, Nick’s mum, doesn’t approve. She thinks Erica’s brassy and flamboyant. As you can imagine, Helen [Worth, who plays Gail] and I have some wonderful scenes together."

Do Erica and Nick (Ben Price) fall into bed straightaway?

“There’s some full-on snogging first - an end-of-episode OMG moment. You don’t actually see them in bed but there are loads of references to them sleeping together. There’s one line when Erica’s in the bistro and says to Gail to wind her up: ‘Nick had his Christmas present last night!’ Gail’s disgusted!”

Nick must think all his Christmases have come at once!

"He deserves some happiness after the rough year he’s had. Erica brings him out of his shell and makes him more relaxed. He even wears jeans instead of a suit in a couple of scenes.”

Is it fun playing a Cougar?

“It’s Grrrrr-eat! Erica clearly likes younger men, but she’s not especially predatory. The attraction between her and Nick is mutual.”

Once Christmas is over, will Erica want a fresh start for the New Year?

“That’s the idea, but then things get a bit complicated. Erica’s mum has a fall, which means she has to stay in the UK rather than go back to Spain and Nick starts thinking she might like him more than she’s letting on. In truth, Erica’s feeling Nick’s becoming a bit clingy. They’re at cross-purposes, really. There are some awkward scenes and then a showdown on New Year’s Eve!”

It’s 16 years since you played Emmerdale über-bitch Kim Tate. Is it good to be back in soapland?

“I’m loving it! But I was very nervous on my first day and I’m still a bit twitchy about the scenes in the Rovers.”

Coronation Street, ITV. Click here for dates and times.

Coronation Street’s Ben Price reveals to Soaplife that Nick lashes out at Leanne on Christmas Day and loses her…forever?

We thought Nick was getting better…

“Outwardly maybe, but really he’s just been better at managing his outbursts and realising when he needs to walk away, calm down and say nothing.”

So what happens on Christmas day?

“It looks like he’s fine, but really he’s not. His head’s all over the place, he has a headache and it’s just too much. Leanne says the wrong thing at the wrong time and he flies into a rage and slaps her face.”

How does she react?

“She’s shocked, upset and disappointed. It’s awful for her and I think, at that point, something dies in their relationship. He hit her as a result of his brain damage, but he’s done the worst thing he can imagine and they’ve lost that trust. He realises they’re not going to be fine. He doesn’t know who he is any more.”

How do the family take it?

“They’re very shocked, but they know he has this huge problem.”

Then he tells Norris! Why?

“Norris notices Leanne’s black eye and Leanne tries to cover, but Nick doesn’t want that. Nick wants to face things - what he’s done and who he is. He’s taking some control back.”

Is he worried he’ll hurt Leanne again?

“Absolutely. He can’t control it and it’s a very fine line for him. He can’t trust himself and he knows Leanne can’t trust him any more. He’s not the man she fell in love with. He suggests they live apart for a while - for her own safety.”

Could they separate permanently?

"Part of him thinks they should. They’ve tried to save their marriage, but when someone is fundamentally not the same person, it’s extremely hard.”

Can he ever be the old Nick again?

“He thought he could, but now he realises maybe he can’t. This is who he is now and he might be like this forever…”

David and Peter fight, Nick loses his temper and Simon is bullied this week

David Platt was revealed to be the father of wife Kylie's baby Lily in the culmination of a long-running paternity storyline in Coronation Street.

In a special double episode on Sunday night, David was shown confirming he was the father when he received the DNA test results. His half-brother Nick was a potential father after a one-night stand with Kylie.

David read the test results to his his ex Tina: “Based on the DNA analysis, the alleged father Mr David Platt cannot be excluded as the father of the child Lily Platt. This constitutes a positive result. The man we have tested is the biological father of the tested child.”

David raced to the hospital to reveal the results to Nick, the man recovering from a car accident deliberately caused by David.

Far from ending the brothers' animosity, the revelation is set to produce more drama as the family gathers for Lily's Christening later this week.

A deadly confrontation takes place when Nick finds out that David knows the truth!

Coronation Street's Nick Tilsley will reportedly be left fighting for his life after being injured in a car crash.

Warring half-brothers Nick (played by Ben Price) and David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) are rumoured to both end up in hospital after the accident, with The Sun reporting that doctors will try to save Nick's life.

There has been tension between both siblings after David found out that his wife Kylie (Paula Lane) cheated on him with his own brother, and David retaliated by smashing up Nick's flat, which he shares with wife Leanne (Jane Danson) and her stepson Simon Barlow. David also doubts that Kylie's baby is his, following her one-night stand with Nick last Christmas.

A Coronation Street source told the paper: "With tempers frayed, David causes the car to spin out of control and it ends up crashing, leaving both brothers needing emergency treatment. But while they both end up in hospital, it's Nick who bears the brunt of it. He's knocked unconscious and remains in a coma in intensive care."

The episodes are expected to be shown on Coronation Street in August.

Coronation Street's Ben Price talks to Soaplife about how nervous Nick is thrown into another panic over Kylie and that baby...

Nick's latest scare occurs when David worries after his epilepsy seizure and wants genetic tests done on the baby…

"Nick goes into a complete panic. It just isn’t an option as far as he’s concerned and he does lose his cool. He’s been in a tram crash, he’s saved people’s lives, he’s seen a few things... But this blows all his control out of the window."

So he talks David out of the idea?

"He tries to. But it's Marcus who assures David the baby is unlikely to inherit the condition and tells him there’s no test they can carry out anyway. That won’t be the only hurdle Nick has to get over, though. He knows there are many obstacles to overcome."

How does Nick feel when David asks him and Leanne to be the baby’s guardians if anything happens to him and Kylie?

"Very awkward! Nick wants to say no, but he can’t. Every time something like this happens, panic shoots through him. If the secret does come out, it will never just be the secret itself that gets Nick into trouble, but all the aftermath events that will suddenly add up for David."

What would scare Nick more: losing David or Leanne?

"It’s been pretty rocky for him and Leanne. He does love her, but their relationship’s tainted. It’s never been perfect, it’s off-white. But he’d be absolutely devastated if he lost his brother. "

Does he trust Kylie to keep quiet?

"Yes. She’s got just as much to lose as Nick. She loves David completely."

And what about Gail?

"She won’t keep her mouth shut! She’s already told Sally… She’s a nightmare!"