Coronation Street Richie Parkinson actor Nathan Sussex, Digi Mart USA News: Coronation Street fans have only just realized why they recognize Richie Parkinson. Richie, played by Nathan Sussex, made his debut on the ITV soap earlier this year as Tim Metcalfe’s (Joe Duttine) estranged cousin.
After meeting up for the first time in years, Richie confided in Tim about his marriage problems with his wife Rachel (Kimberley Barrett), revealing they were going through a rocky patch. Things took a dramatic turn when Tim went round to Richie’s house only to find him in a shirt covered in blood and Rachel dead on the floor.
Soon afterward, Richie was arrested for the murder of his wife and has been sent to prison. With her dad in prison, Richie’s daughter Lucy (Anya Dewin) was due to go live with foster parents, but Tim managed to persuade his wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) to let them take Lucy in, and Lucy is now living at No. 4.
However, Lucy is clearly troubled, and it has been hinted that she is actually the one who murdered Rachel and that Richie is covering for her. It was also revealed that Lucy is Christina Boyd’s (Amy Robbins) biological granddaughter.
In Tuesday’s episode (November 10), Christina faced her daughter’s killer when she visited Richie in prison.
In a bid to win his trust, she claimed she had a brother who went through a similar situation to his, and Richie was grateful for her apparent support. As for the actor, Nathan Sussex is no stranger to TV screens.
From January 2018 to January 2019, he portrayed Buster Smith in the rival soap Hollyoaks.
Buster was a youth football coach who featured in a high-profile and challenging storyline examining child sexual abuse and grooming within sports. Fans have been quick to share their shock after recognizing Nathan from the Hollyoaks role.
On a Coronation Street Facebook fan page, one person asked, “What has Richie been in before?” Another replied, “From Hollyoaks! The football coach who sexually abused the boys.” A third commented, “He was the abusive footy coach in Hollyoaks,” while another viewer said, “Knew I recognised him from somewhere!”
As well as Hollyoaks and Corrie, Nathan appeared on Channel 5’s The Good Ship Murder in 2025, playing Liam Barnes. He has also had roles in Midsomer Murders, Casualty, Doctors and the BAFTA-nominated 2021 series It’s A Sin.
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
