Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street star Ben Price has teased details of a "painful" time for his character, Nick Tilsley. As well as dealing with the difficulties regarding his son Sam Blakeman, Nick struggles to cope when his ex-wife, Leanne Battersby, finds a new partner.
Though Nick is now in a relationship with Leanne's stepsister Toyah, he still has some feelings for his ex-wife, to whom he was married twice. This is tested in upcoming scenes, when Leanne falls for newcomer Idris Nazir.
Related: Best streaming services UK 2026 – including Disney Plus, Netflix, iPlayer and Apple TV
With Sam battling his own demons amid Leanne's new storyline, it seems likely that Idris will become a part of the teenager's life, with this development - as well as the newcomer's involvement with Leanne - proving to be a bitter pill for Nick to swallow.
"That's quite painful for Nick," said Price in regards to Idris's links with both Sam and Leanne. "He finds it very difficult. Idris has come in and you will see Sam opening up to him, and Nick then feels quite lost before getting angry and protective."
What to Read Next
"He also recognises, in a sad way, that maybe he's not completely rounded. With teenagers going through any sort of angst, the last person they often speak to is their key caregiver," added the actor.
"If there's someone else who's removed from it, they can talk to them. But it's hard for the parents to stand by and watch that, particularly when it's a new love interest for someone. There's a lot wrapped up in those emotions."
While Nick will feel a little lost following Idris's arrival, the newfound dynamic also provides a sense of competition within the community, with Price explaining that the Weatherfield newcomer is very different to Leanne's previous partners.
Related: Coronation Street first look as Summer's news leaves Todd utterly shaken
"Leanne has had other relationships, but Nick's been a bit nonplussed," said the actor. "With Idris, he's a businessman and does quite well for himself, which Nick finds a bit tricky because he has a certain standing by owning the bistro."
"It crumbles at times, which I think is fantastic. He sets himself up as being able to handle it all, and then the great bit is when he can't. Idris will probably be a match for Nick in certain ways," added the star.
Coronation Street airs on weeknights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
Visit our Streaming Guide now to see at a glance where you can view ALL your favourite shows and movies.
The new edition of Living Legends, a collector's edition exploring the royal family, is here! Buy The Royals in newsagents or online.
