The stars of Cold Feet have revealed their terror at bringing back the hit 90s comedy drama after an absence of 13 years.
Hermione Norris, who plays Karen, admitted she initially thought the original series should be left well alone. “I really felt that,” she says candidly.
“It’s that thing in life, you sort of think – ‘don’t go back, just move forward’. And also it was so of its time and it was so loved, I felt it may be best left because I wouldn’t ever want to do anything that would have undone that.”
She said the “weight of expectation and responsibility” to make something was as good as before was enormous.
Robert Bathurst, who plays her ex-husband David in the eight-part series to start next month, agreed.
She said: “We’d not seen each other much in the last 13 years. We were all full of apprehension.”
They were persuaded to join in by writer Mike Bullen, who insisted it would be “really interesting” to revisit the characters later in their lives, as their children become adults.
Hermione laughs: “I couldn’t even remember how many children Karen and David had! Acting is transient, you just move on. Getting back on the set was a real joy, I find it quite comforting.”
The last time viewers saw Cold Feet, in 2003, David and Karen were going through an amicable divorce, Pete had split with Aussie second wife Jo and returned to Jenny, pregnant with another man’s baby.
Grief-struck Adam had decided to quit Manchester with baby Matthew following Rachel’s funeral.
John Thomson, who plays Pete, said viewers would need to bridge the gap. “We’ve no 13 year backstory. People must imagine what’s happened.
“We’re not picking up where we left off – it would cost a fortune in botox.”
After such a long wait, Robert Bathurst hopes they can attract new viewers plus former fans. “We shouldn’t only play to our previous constituency. I think it’s important it’s a series that stands alone. You shouldn’t have to do homework.”
ITV boss Kevin Lygo also admits he was “very nervous” about bringing back Cold Feet, but argued a drama that wasn’t crime/thriller/period was rare.
“It’s warm, funny and moving. These are incredibly difficult shows to make. Try and think of something like this in the last five years – there haven’t been any.” He won’t regret it...
The verdict
Plotwise, we’ve been sworn to secrecy. But for all those worried that this comeback might go the same way as This Life did – ie terribly – fear not.
The sixth series of Cold Feet is every bit as warm and funny as it was the last time around. And along with the many laughs, there are also moments of poignancy which bring a tear to the eye.
There’s so much to find out – how Adam has managed as a single parent, how Pete and Jenny patched up their marriage, whether David and Karen found new love.
Suffice to say, we think you’ll love the new series.