Coronation Street businessman Nick Tilsley is currently involved in one of the soap's biggest storylines as his half-brother David Platt is secretly plotting against him.
Having learned of his wife Kylie's one-night stand with Nick, scheming David (Jack P Shepherd) is hell-bent on destroying his life.
We recently caught up with Ben Price, who plays Nick, to hear what the consequences for his character will be in the long-term.
Has this been an enjoyable storyline to film?
"Yeah, it's great - it's got all the elements that you want, really! First of all, it revolves around a secret and a very big one. Second of all, it's also great that it involves the whole Platt family and it sets the two brothers against each other. It's very exciting for us to film."
Do you think the writers chose the right time for David to find out the truth?
"If I'm honest, I don't mind either way. There's two schools of thought - we could have dragged it out and extended the story over a year or two with David staying in the dark, but in this case we've brought out the truth now - and that maybe means we're going to have a bigger aftermath.
"Maybe the aftermath was more interesting from a storyline perspective. I don't know what happens when the writers have story conferences, but they obviously felt it would be exciting to reveal the secret now and have big consequences as a result. I'm quite happy with that!"
Are you pleased that they've held back on the David/Nick showdown for now?
"Yes, I think it's fantastic that we're going to see a different David now. The earlier evil David would have probably just tried to kill Nick straight away! There's a development now, as David is older and things have changed for him. Having him be more devious is a good move from the writers, I think!"
This week, David tries to fool Nick into thinking that something is going on between Leanne and Peter again. How does Nick react?
"Nick never thinks about it in terms of David - he only thinks about it in terms of Peter. Peter is the person Nick hates, so David has chosen a good way of getting to his brother. Nick hates Peter and that will be the case until the end of time! Even mentioning Peter's name annoys Nick. He doesn't like seeing him, he doesn't like him coming into the Bistro and he doesn't like walking past the bookies. He just doesn't like him!"
With Nick getting suspicious, what does Leanne make of it all?
"Leanne just thinks that Nick is stressed because of the business and other things that have happened recently. I don't think she has any idea at the moment that something is untoward. There's nothing going on between Leanne and Peter, so from her point of view, there's nothing to hide. It's just Nick and his little mind!"
Is Nick worried now that the flat has been broken into?
"He's a little bit worried, but he's mainly just thinking, 'Should have got a better lock!' He doesn't think about it initially, it's only when things start to add up that it gets to him."
How do things progress in the longer term?
"This story will get very dark! I think we're going to see a very different, dark Nick for a long time. It could change him forever and it will change the dynamic in the Platt family. This story will have repercussions for a long, long time. But that's all quite a way into the future!"
Do you think the viewers will enjoy seeing Nick squirm?
"Probably! Not necessarily him squirming, but I think they'll possibly enjoy watching a nastier side of Nick in the longer term. He'll squirm for a while, the truth will eventually come out about what David's doing, and then Nick will fight back. I don't think he's the sort of bloke to just take something like this lying down.
"Don't get me wrong, Nick has behaved badly. He doesn't really have a leg to stand on and knows it doesn't look good! But at the same time, he's not going to take it lying down when David starts confronting him."
Could this destroy the Platt family forever?
"I'd say no! It won't end them forever, but it's essential to try and blow a family apart before bringing them back together again. It was similar with the Lewis Archer storyline.
"What's fantastic about the Platts is that they're bonded by blood, so in some ways it doesn't matter what happens. This family can rage and rage, but send one of the Barlows over, and they'll all immediately team up to have a go at them! That's the essence of it. You can fight tooth and nail within the family, but the minute someone threatens to harm the family, they'll turn on you."
Are you all still unaware of who the father of Kylie's baby is?
"You don't know until you read it! There are whispers and various scenarios being thrown around, but until we get the scripts, we're not going to know. I think they change it depending on where they are and what they think is better dramatically in the long term. But that's not my choice, I just have to act it."
Do you have an opinion on which would be the better outcome?
"Not on which would make the better storyline, as I don't think about stories in that way - it's not my job. With that said, I would like the baby to be Nick's. That's me thinking from Nick's point of view, because he wants a child. Whether this would be the best way for him to have a child I'm not sure, and if it was him, would him and Leanne ever get back together? Again, I don't know!
"Sometimes what you think would be better initially in the storyline isn't great in the long term. That's what the storyliners look at - they look at what would be better for the characters, in much more detail and in a much bigger timeframe."
Nick keeps on forgiving Leanne for things. Do you think it's her turn to forgive him for his secret?
"It probably is, but I'm not sure she will, though! I think Nick can forgive but I don't think Leanne's very forgiving. I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of her. She's got a right temper on her! It's pretty big as Nick could have got his sister-in-law pregnant. I'd like to think that Leanne would forgive Nick, but I think it would take a while. It definitely wouldn't take five episodes!"
Are you still happy at Corrie?
"Of course! If you get great storylines and great scenes to play every day, then why wouldn't you be happy? It's a great place to be. It's all about story for me and the character. Waiting to see what comes up next is the most exciting part for me. I get just as excited as you guys might to see where the story is going."
Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe
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Originally Posted by sean slater
