ITV gets Cold Feet and shifts show to a new night to dodge a clash with BBC’s star drama
Bosses are so worried the return of ITV’s Cold Feet could be overshadowed by BBC1 drama Poldark they plan to air it outside its traditional Sunday night slot.
The much-loved ITV drama starts next month, 13 years after the last episode when 10million fans saw James Nesbitt’s character Adam lay wife Rachel to rest.
But with the return date of hit drama Poldark confirmed as Sunday, September 4, ITV is keen to ensure they’re not locked in a ratings war.
The BBC’s remake of the Ross and Demelza 70s classic, starring Aidan Turner, regularly attracted viewing figures in excess of six million last year – beating popular ITV rival Vera.
Now ITV chiefs are looking at scheduling Cold Feet for a Monday or Friday night, with new ITV drama Victoria, led by Doctor Who star Jenna Coleman, most likely taking the Sunday night slot.
An insider said: “ITV is confident Cold Feet will be a huge success, but they’re aware Poldark brought the BBC one of its highest ratings last year. They don’t want to force viewers to channel hop or watch on catch-up.
“Over the original five series, Cold Feet aired on Mondays as well as Sundays, and it still had a loyal following on the Monday.
“The new series has been a huge undertaking. Writer Mike Bullen and the entire production crew have put everything into ensuring it lives up to the original series. They’re hopeful it will win back its old audience and attract a new younger audience with some younger cast members, but they’re not taking any risks.”
I watched the first episode on Friday and have had a sneak peak of what’s in store for the rest of the new series.
And I can say that fans of the original won’t be disappointed.
James Nesbitt, John Thomson, Fay Ripley, Hermione Norris and Robert Bathurst are just as loveable and sharp-witted as before.
There’s even talk of a second series on the horizon.
I hear writer Mike Bullen is taking a well-earned break in Australia right now, but he’s already got ideas for a follow-up.
Watch this space. I bet it will be a huge hit...
The programmes my husband and I are most at odds about are... Sci-fi shows, particularly ones where aliens are killing people, because I could not be less interested. But funnily enough the programme that still causes the most debate is Dragons’ Den. My kids say I’m a nightmare when we watch it because I talk too much during the episodes, while my husband Michael doesn’t know what’s about to happen
Bizarrely nothing related to my work in the restaurant industry. I’ve never got into food programmes and I’m not a big fan of reality shows, because I’ve seen the other side of it when I was a judge and an investor on Raymond Blanc’s The Restaurant. Instead I love travel programmes. Anything where people roam the world and show me different cultures and different ways of living. The best show I’ve watched recently... I know everyone loved it, but for me Breaking Bad was the best thing I have ever watched. It was such an amazing concept and to sustain the suspense for that long and still be quality viewing, I just found really impressive. I’m married to a Dane, so we love the Scandi dramas The Bridge and The Killing too.
Dragon’s Den, BBC2, 9pm, Sundays