Coronation Street star Nicola Thorp has revealed she's been in £30,000 of debt for the past 17 years, after struggling to pay her drama school fees. 

The actress, 36, who played Nicola Rubinstein in the soap, appeared on This Morning on Thursday and discussed the cost of university. 

Discussing how students were missing lectures because they were too tired from working in jobs to support their education, Nicola admitted she had amassed £30,000 of debt - despite working in television for nearly a decade. 

Nicola, who studied acting at Arts Educational School in London from 2007 to 2010, was asked by host Ben Shepherd if she had to pay her university fees. 

She replied: 'Yes I did. I had to pay. I am still in about £30,000 of debt now.

'Even 17 years later.'

Cat Deeley was surprised by Nicola's confession, while Ben commented: 'And that's the reality for a lot of these students. They don't have a choice.' 

Nicola starred on Coronation Street for two years, after landing the role in 2017. 

She has since transitioned from acting into journalism and presenting. 

Nicola is a regular commentator on This Morning since 2020 and has also co-hosted TalkTV's Talk Today between 2020 to 2024. 

The TV star took part in Celebrity Hunted with her husband Nikesh Patel back in 2023.

They welcomed their daughter a year later. 

Sharing a heartfelt photo of her daughter, Nicola wrote at the time: 'We are delighted to say that we recently welcomed our beautiful baby daughter into the world.

'Everything they say about birth being a rollercoaster of emotions is true. We're shattered and smitten and everything in between.'

Nicola has also been a prominent equal rights campaigner since she made headlines in 2016 after she was sacked from her receptionist job for refusing to wear high heels.