A former Coronation Street and Brassic star has shared her ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) diagnosis on her Instagram with fans.

Kimberly Hart-Simpson, best known to soap fans as sex worker Nicky Wheatley, shared that she was diagnosed eight months ago but had kept the news private until now.

“I come from a generation where this wasn’t really an open conversation or a comfortable label,” she wrote. “So when I found out I did the classic reaction of run a marathon / go to Thailand on your own / start a million new side projects.”

Hart-Simpson, who was brought up in Oldham, said she initially stayed silent to “untangle 38 years worth of WTF” and admitted that running gave her the space to begin understanding herself. “I am actually happy I have received the diagnosis I did, it’s helpful for me,” she said. “I am not sure what I will do with the knowledge just yet… I mean I haven’t just developed it, I have clearly had it all my life, but I have only just admitted it, so it’s going to be a process.”

Former Corrie co-stars including Bhavna Limbachia (Rana Habeeb) and Jack James Ryan (Jacob Hay) responded with heart emojis, while fans shared their own experiences with ADHD and neurodiversity.

Hart-Simpson’s character Nicky was introduced as an escort hired by Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard) as he struggled with grief following the death of his wife Sinead Tinker (Katie McGlynn). She later returned to Weatherfield to support Daniel during the Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) missing persons storyline.

Outside of Coronation Street, Hart-Simpson has appeared in Hollyoaks, Brassic, and Celebs Go Dating: The Mansion, and runs her own fashion brand, Hart-Work.