He is most famous for his role on popular ITV soap opera Coronation Street, where he took over the role of Nick Tilsley in 1997. The part had previously been played by actor Warren Jackson until 1996 when the character moved to Canada. He left the series in 1999, returning briefly in 2002 and for a longer spell from 2003 to 2004 after which he along with several cast members were sacked after a new producer came to the show. His most famous and controversial storyline was in 2003 when the character of Nick was involved in the series' first gay kiss with Todd Grimshaw (played by Bruno Langley).
Rickitt left Coronation Street in 1999 to start a music career. He signed a six-album deal, although he only released one album - Good Times - in 2000. Rickitt's first single, I Breathe Again, reached number five in the UK Top Ten, but follow up singles Everything My Heart Desires, and Best Thing only entered the Top Twenty and Top Thirty respectively. The failure of the album (which peaked at No. 41 in the chart) and Rickitt's disillusionment with the direction of his career led him to abandon pop music. However in 2003, he played Mark Cohen in the musical Rent.
Rickitt actively courted gay audiences during this period, appearing regularly at gay venues and the BBC series Gaytime TV as well as children's television and mainstream pop festivals and television series.
Prior to his acting career, Rickitt had briefly been a child model. He subsequently has modelled for UK magazines such as Attitude and Cosmopolitan. He is known especially in the tabloid press for having an extremely well-defined "six-pack". This, combined with his blond hair and good looks, has led to the accusation that he is a himbo. Nonetheless, Rickitt turned down an opportunity to study law at Cambridge University in favour of continuing his modelling and acting career.
In October 2005, Rickitt was approved as a prospective parliamentary candidate for the UK Conservative Party. As part of this attempt to reinvent himself, in February 2006 he appeared on the political debate show Question Time, as the non-partisan guest. In May 2006, he was one of 100 would-be MPs chosen for the Conservative party 'A-list'. The following month he appeared on Sunday AM with Andrew Marr. He attends major party functions and local party functions in the hope of being selected as well as developing a political blog on his website. However, a newspaper article alleged was not actually a member of the Conservative Party, and had only decided to support them because of his dislike of Prime Minister Tony Blair. Rickitt however refuted the claims and confirmed that he was a member. He also, along with David Cameron, provoked the anger of Sir Nicholas Winterton when it was revealed that Rickitt was tipped to stand for the safe Conservative seat of Macclesfield which Winterton had represented for nearly thirty years. Winterton was outraged, stating that he had no intention of standing down from this seat: "I wish Adam luck, but there are no vacancies here."
Rickitt also took part in the Channel Four reality show The Games during March 2006, although he only had two weeks' training, compared to the other contestants' twelve. He had replaced the scheduled contestant, electronic musician Goldie, had to pull out during an accident during training for the water ski jump, in which he fractured his femur. Rickitt himself sustained two black eyes after over-rotating off the diving board. He finished last in the contest.
In December 2006 he appeared in his first pantomime, Cinderella, in the role of Prince Charming.
In January 2007 it was announced that Rickitt would appear on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street in a guest role, although as of his first appearance in March 2007, he was credited as a core cast member, and he later stated he would be on the show for at least six months.
Heart and Soul
Adam Rickitt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Baby, baby
Deep inside I need you with me baby
You maximise your love, it's drive me crazy
Gonna take my time
Gonna make this real
Come on and liberate me girl
Your body heat it tastes so sweet
Heart, soul, let your lovin' show
Baby don't you know
When I need your love baby
Heart, soul, let your lovin' flow
Baby don't you know
Baby, baby, baby
When I need your love baby
Movin' down I feel your heat shake through me
Touch and feel your love, when we break free
Gonna make you mine
Gonna make this real
The way you're touching me it sets me free
Come on and liberate me girl
Your body heat it tastes so sweet
Heart, soul, let your lovin' show
Baby don't you know
When I need your love baby
Heart, soul, let your lovin' flow
Baby don't you know
Baby, baby, baby
Heart, soul, let your lovin' show
Baby don't you know
When I need your love baby
Heart, soul, let your lovin' flow
Baby don't you know
Baby, baby, baby
The lyrics to Adam Rickitt's song Heart And Soul expresses the desire and need for love and intimacy. He confesses that he needs his lover with him and that her love drives him crazy in a good way. He wants to take his time and make their relationship real. The physical connection with his lover sets him free from any worries and he wants to be liberated by her. The taste of her body heat is sweet to him. He wants her to show him love and let it flow freely because he needs it. He describes their intimacy as a liberating experience, and it seems like he is urging her to be more open with him, both physically and emotionally.
Overall, the lyrics communicate the passion Adam Rickitt feels for his lover, and his need for a deeper connection with her. He wants to be bound to her completely and genuinely.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, baby
Addressing a loved one with affectionate repetition.
Deep inside I need you with me baby
Expressing a profound desire to be with the loved one.
You maximise your love, it's drive me crazy
Stating that the intensity of the loved one's love is making the singer insane.
Gonna take my time
Promising to be patient in pursuing the relationship.
Gonna make this real
Intending to turn the relationship into something genuine.
The way you're touching me it sets me free
Describing the liberating feeling brought by the loved one's physical affection.
Come on and liberate me girl
Asking the loved one to continue providing the singer with emotional release.
Your body heat it tastes so sweet
Describing the pleasurable sensation of physical intimacy with the loved one.
Heart, soul, let your lovin' show
Encouraging the loved one to express their affection more visibly and openly.
Baby don't you know
Asking the loved one to recognize the depth of the artist's love.
When I need your love baby
Expressing dependence on the loved one for emotional sustenance.
Movin' down I feel your heat shake through me
Describing the physical response of the artist to the loved one's touch.
Touch and feel your love, when we break free
Suggesting that the singer and the loved one will experience greater intimacy when they are able to be more uninhibited with each other.
Gonna make you mine
Expressing the singer's desire to commit to the loved one.
Heart, soul, let your lovin' flow
Again encouraging the loved one to express their affection and emotions more openly.
Baby, baby, baby
Repeating the initial address to emphasize the artist's affection for the loved one.
Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.