It feels like the Cold Feet is back
REWIND to 2016 and one of the most-loved comedy dramas made a triumphant comeback after 13-years. Yes, we’re talking about Cold Feet – the IT V show that follows a group of Manchester friends who are now in their 50s.
But what can we expect from series eight? James Nesbitt (who plays Adam), Hermione Norris (Karen), Robert Bathurst (David), Fay Ripley ( Jenny) and John Thomson (Pete) tell us about the laughs and tears to come.
JENNY’S HEALTH BATTLES
ONE of the big storylines already announced for this series is around Jenny being told she has breast cancer, so prepare yourself for some particularly emotional scenes.
“I wasn’t sure that it was the right story, initially, because I didn’t want it to be soapy,” Fay, 52, recalls of first reading the script.
“People say to me: ‘Was it really hard?’ No, because I haven’t got breast cancer, of course it wasn’t hard. What’s hard is getting it right.”
The Londoner continues : “Because I know so many people who have breast cancer, or other kinds of cancer, I am aware that life goes on.
“You have a laugh, you go for dinner, you get your kids off to school.
“That was what I wanted it to be.” Has it made her think about her own health more?
“I’m completely terrified,” she admits. “One in three is not great odds, actually, and I’m constantly thinking: ‘Who’s next?’ I’m not saying it’s right to live like that, but I definitely catastrophise.” Comedy drama Cold Feet is back for its eighth series and there are some huge storylines in store. The much-loved cast tell
more about the return of the Manchester drama
EXPECT MORE GROUP SCENES
EVERY time the cast revisits the show, they feel a “weight of responsibility to deliver something to the audience that they will love, and is true to Cold Feet”, says London-born Hermione.
But she isn’t worried about this series at all, and reckons part of why these episodes are so strong is down to storylines involving all the characters.
“It feels like old Cold Feet is back,” the 51-year-old elaborates excitedly.
“We were all together working a lot as a group – all of the storylines, and the journeys that we go on, impact everyone in the group. Everyone’s not off on different strands.”
Hermione also reveals there’s a flashback in episode two to Adam’s wedding to Rachel, played by Helen Baxendale - long-time fans will remember Rachel’s tragic death in a car accident in series five.
“You see all of the characters – just for a moment – about 20 years ago, and that was quite a profound moment,” the actress explains.
“You see how young we all were and that really brought back that Blairite time of real hope and positivity.”
She even shed a tear watching it back.
“I was quite shocked, I thought : ‘Oh God, am I being over the top?’
“Then he said he did as well,” she says, while smiling at John, who agrees he was “really choked up”.
TIME TO GROW UP
JAMES, 53, felt it was right for the writers to focus on him dealing with acting his age in this series.
“Sometimes, for people who are in complete denial, they need a very big eye-opener.
“I think it comes, and it’s delivered through humour and pathos and embarrassment and awkwardness,” he says.
Indeed, watch out for some painfully cringey scenes between Adam and his son Matthew in the first episode.
Discussing his role further, the Northern Irish actor says : “I know that in the grand scheme of things, it’s a T V programme and it doesn’t really matter, but in the last series, I felt he’d lost a bit of his likeability.
“I think that was attached to his disconnect from the reality of who he’s supposed to be and what age he is.
“In this series, it’s addressed a bit more. He’s a bit more vulnerable.”