Cold Feet Returns
The actors give the lowdown on their characters, as the new series gets under way
PETE GIFFORD – John Thomson
“Pete is on the pharmaceutical route to help with his depression and it’s working for him. He’s moved from being a mini cab driver to chauffeur, but he knows that what gives him the greatest joy is looking after older people in the care home. Even though it is poorly paid and the hours are long, that’s what his real vocation is and it is best for his mental state because he’s loved by the residents. “He is a little bit at a crossroads, asking himself ‘Do I do this for the money or that for my soul?’ And I think that he tends to err on the soul side, just for his mental state because he knows he is still vulnerable.”
KAREN MARSDEN – Hermione Norris
“Karen had the big love interest with wealthy financier Eddie (Art Malik) last series but this series focuses on her work and balancing looking after teenage children.
“It’s been lovely returning to ColdFeet again and I do think there is something quite interesting about re-visiting characters at various junctures in their lives. And it’s lovely to be able to play an ordinary, middle-aged woman in a prime-time drama. I think people love the show, because at the heart of it is a love between a group of people. When you get to the age of 50 you realise that love for each other is all there is at the end of the day.”
DAVID MARSDEN – Robert Bathurst
“David had a bit of downgrading in his job last time but he, like the others, is not defined by what he does for a living. I remember in the first series, many years ago, he was a management consultant and he came home and said, ‘Sorry I’m late, Karen. The FTSE went down a hundred.’ I mean, what’s that got to do with anything?!
“There is another woman in his life but his relationship with Karen underscores everything. They may be divorced but they have children together so that will always tie them and there is a sense of yearning between David and Karen.”
JENNY GIFFORD – Fay Ripley
“Jen has been promoted at the hotel where she works and is forging ahead as her husband Pete is taking a bit of a back seat with his work, following his depression last series. “When we are filming in Manchester I am the one who organises whenever we go out for dinner together in the evening, not only so that I can spend time with my lovely friends and colleagues, but that I get to pick the restaurant!
“It’s hard being away from my kids but they joined me for a while this series because they asked if they could act as extras in a scene, so I got them in the back of one shot during their half term!”
ADAM WILLIAMS – James Nesbitt
“We were apprehensive about returning last series, wondering whether it was right to bring the show back, but there was an immediate rapport.
“I think fans of the show are concerned about who will replace Rachel in Adam’s affections. She was the love of his life and he will never get over her death but I think if he is going to find love with anyone again, it will be with Tina. There was a nice, slow-build with her last series and at the start of this one he is in a good place with her but Adam finds it difficult to be content. Just when things seem to be going smoothly for him, obstacles arrive in his way. But any obstacles are those that Adam puts there himself.”
TINA REYNOLDS – Leanne Best
“I think Tina’s introduction was cleverly written. She was sort of in the periphery to begin with – the slightly bonkers landlady who lives across the street who was an ear for Adam when everything was going a bit pear shaped. “This new series is set a year later and Tina and Adam are still very much a part of each other’s lives but the path of love doesn’t always run smoothly! She thinks she might be in love with him but she is also a massive commitment phobe because she has been hurt before.”