SOAP fans were left stunned when Coronation Street’s golden boy Nick Tilsley returned to the cobbles with a brand new face – and now the real reason behind the big switch has come to light.

The character, originally played by Warren Jackson for more than ten years, was later taken over by Ben Price – and it turns out the decision was shocking.

Nick first rocked up in Weatherfield back in 1981, played by Warren Jackson.

But in a real-life schoolboy twist, the young actor quit in 1996 to knuckle down on his GCSEs – expecting to return after exams.

Instead, he was quietly dropped for good.

Producers later brought the character back in 1997 with a brand new face – pop star Adam Rickitt.

He lasted just two years before bowing out in 1999, though he did pop back for brief stints in 2002 and 2003 until finally waving goodbye in 2004.

By 2009, Corrie bosses were eyeing another comeback for Nick – but Rickitt was tied up with a soap role in New Zealand.

That’s when Footballers’ Wives star Ben Price landed the gig, stepping into the shoes of a now-grown-up Nick with a dramatic new direction.

Price made his debut on 21 December 2009 and has been a fixture ever since, brushing off comparisons to his predecessors by saying: “I’m not playing Adam Rickitt – I’m playing Nick. Hopefully I’m bringing something better, nicer or a bit different to the show.”

The recast sparked the most controversary, but what is Warren’s side of the story?

A clip from a 2004 YouTube documentary entitled ‘The Kids From Coronation Street’ showed Warren explain how he was told he wouldn’t be returning to the ITV soap – and it was brutal.

Warren said: “I was about 16 years old and I was doing my year out basically to concentrate on my school work.

“And I was getting into my exams, three-quarters of the way into the year, and a reporter came round to my house.

“They told me that they were bringing Nick Tilsley back to Coronation Street, but it wouldn’t be me playing it.

“And the reason I wouldn’t be playing the part is because I’m not sexy enough… so that was a blow and a bit strange.

“But I’ve learnt to adapt and I’m okay now.”

In another interview in 2004, Warren revealed: “I remember saying goodbye to Helen Worth and she said, ‘Stay in touch and see you next year’. She thought I’d be back, everyone thought I would.

“I never dreamed they’d get rid of me the way they did.”

Warren admitted he tuned in to see his replacement, but was not convinced Adam was any “sexier”.

“I watched the first few. I can remember thinking ‘Ooh, the hairdo’ and he was more beefed up – more muscles and everything.”

Since leaving the cobbles, Warren has lived abroad for many years in a variety of ­countries, including Spain and Holland where he worked in Amsterdam’s cannabis coffee bars and nightclubs.

Warren is the one of the former Coronation Street stars to struggle with drink and drugs.

He admitted that his life spiralled out of control, but turned his life around for the sake of his son, who lives with his mum in the Manchester area but to whom Warren is determined to maintain access.

However, Warren’s TV experience has left him disillusioned with the industry and he has said he would hate to see his son to follow him into a career on the small screen.

He said: “The way I was dumped by Corrie really affected me. I would never want my son to be famous by being on television. Write a book or something – but TV ruins people for years.”