Hollyoaks newcomer Adam Rickitt has to run nine miles a day or his fusing spine disease – Ankylosing Spondilitis – will ‘leave him in a wheelchair’
The hunky soap star, 38, suffers from the rare disorder which he describes leaves his spine like 'custard'
ADAM Rickitt's super-toned six pack is a hunky consequence of a rare disease which risks his spine fusing together and his life spent in a wheelchair if he doesn't work out every single day.
The former Coronation Street star is set to take on a new acting challenge in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks and has revealed his quirky illness, Ankylosing Spondylitis, which sees him run nine miles each morning as part of his treatment.
"When I wake up in the morning, I'm in a lot of pain so I go straight out for a nine-mile run.
"I also do press-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups.
"I have to do it every single day otherwise I could end up in a wheelchair."
What is ankylosing spondylitis?
- Ankylosing Spondylitis is a long-term condition in which the spine and other areas of the body become inflamed
- It tends to develop in teenagers and adults
- It is three times more common in men than women
- Symptoms include back pain, stiffness, extreme tiredness and pain and swelling in other parts of the body
- These can develop gradually over a number of years
- In most cases, treatment combines exercise, physiotherapy and medication
- Surgery is sometimes needed to repair significantly damaged joints.
- Sours nhs.co.uk
The actor - famed for playing Nick Tilsley on the Corrie Cobbles - faces a fresh medical challenge in his new role as MS sufferer Kyle.
Yet referring to his own condition, Adam, who has previously suffered from bulimia, added: "I call it the 'custard disease' because my spine is like a jug of hot custard - if you put it down for too long, a skin forms.
"But if you stir it the skin disappears.
"If I don't exercise my spine solidifies."
Fans will soon see Adam back on screen as he heads into the fictional Hollyoaks village as the ex-partner of Nancy Osborne.
The soap’s producers have teased Adam’s arrival could cause big problems between Nancy and her current boyfriend Darren.
Speaking about his role, Adam said: “I am really happy to be joining Hollyoaks.
“I’ve had a lot of friends work on the show throughout the years and they’ve all told me what an amazing place it is to work so it’s really good to be a part of such a welcoming crowd.
“The key interest for me was in the storylines lined up for Kyle.
“I think they are amazing, taking the character on a real journey and something I am really enjoying playing a part in. Fingers crossed the audience like the surprises as they keep coming…”
Adam left his singing career for acting and joined the cast of Coronation Street from 1997 to 2004.
After leaving the soap, he returned to music and appeared on The Big Reunion in 2014.
Adam’s character Kyle will make his on screen debut in April.
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