Heartbeat's Nick Berry ditched 90s fame to become…

Heartbeat's Nick Berry ditched 90s fame to become stay-at-home dad focussing on his family

Nick Berry shot to fame in the 80s and 90s for his roles in EastEnders and Heartbeat, but the talented actor turned his back on the limelight.

The star, 60, is best known for his roles as PC Nick Rowan in Heartbeat or as Simon Wicks in the BBC soap before he quit acting to focus on his family. Nick became a fast fan-favourite for his role as Simon in EastEnders and was the heartthrob of Albert Square.

Before venturing to the Yorkshire Dales for Heartbeat, Nick tried his hand at a music career and his debut single Every Loser Wins went to No.1 in 1986. His last acting role came back in 2012, when he briefly reprised his EastEnders character to attend the funeral of his on-screen mother Pat Butcher.

Nick made headlines recently after being spotted looking worlds away from his 90s heyday.

He was spotted enjoying an afternoon out and about as he visited a nearby coffee shop. Nick's life has done a complete 180 turn from his days as an acting hunk after marrying actress Rachel Robertson, 51, and becoming a stay-at-home-dad.

Nick Berry as PC Rowan in Heartbeat (Yorkshire Television)

Nick and Rachel first began dating when she was just 17 and working as a model at the time. Speaking about their early romance, Nick previously told The Mirror: "It was love at first sight for me but she thought I was just a dirty old man with a flash car."

The couple went onto tie the knot in December 1994 and welcomed two sons, Louis and Finley, shortly after. Just three years after the nuptials Nick decided to give up his career and become a stay-at-home dad to their two sons.

"When I joined Heartbeat I wasn't married and didn't have kids. Everything has changed since then," he says. "I've never really got used to it, even after playing Wicksy in EastEnders. I don't feel the stimulus in acting anymore. You are little more than a puppet really."

Prior to finding love with Rachel, Nick had another high-profile romance with his EastEnders co-star Gillian Taylforth, who played his on-screen step-mum. The romance caused quite a stir due to their character's on-screen family bond and the eight year age gap.

Nick Berry and his partner Rachel photographed at the BAFTA Film and Television Awards in 1997 (Getty)

Nick previously told the Daily Mail in 2011 that he would "never say never" about returning to his acting roots now his kids were older, but at the time was "genuinely happy" as he was.

"I chose to be a stay-at-home dad and have loved it. I always said that when the boys were teenagers I could go back, but the longer you don't do something the harder it is to do it, and I haven't really missed it," he said.

After leaving the small screen behind, Nick moved into production and set up his own TV and Film company, Valentine Productions at Pinewood Studios. According to Companies House Records, he resigned from Valentine Productions in 2019.

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Heartbeat's Nick Berry ditched 90s fame to become stay-at-home dad focussing on his family

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