FRIENDS REUNITED
The cast of comedy drama COLD FEET on why the series is going back to its roots…
Cold Feet
Monday, ITV HD, 9pm
BACK IN 2016, Cold Feet made a triumphant return to ITV after 13 years away from our screens as viewers fell in love all over again with the quintet of Manchesterbased friends who had grown older but no wiser.
Now, three years on, the cast feel that this week’s new series has got even closer to recapturing the magic of classic Cold Feet.
‘It’s more of a nod to where we were,’ says 52-year-old Fay Ripley, who plays no-nonsense Jenny.
‘It’s the strongest we’ve seen with more fun and games and life and tears and laughter.’
James Nesbitt, who plays charmer Adam, agrees. ‘It feels like old Cold Feet to me. We see how life can unravel and it impacts on them all and it’s truthful and painfully funny. It addresses the questions we all ask as we get older.’
MIDLIFE WOES
Those age issues are prominent for Adam, who was last seen splitting up with girlfriend Tina (Leanne Best) after he cheated on her. But, as the series returns, he’s finding it tough being single in his 50s.
‘Adam is always looking for romance,’ says Nesbitt. ‘But he’s on an almost impossible quest to work out if there will be another Rachel [Adam’s late wife, who was played by Helen Baxendale] or if he’s destined to be alone.
‘But this is the series where he grows up and it’s great seeing how he develops.’
Elsewhere, Jenny and husband Pete (John Thomson) are back on track, while a shocking liaison is in store for publisher Karen (Hermione Norris), whose exhusband David (Robert Bathurst) has concerns about his relationship with Nikki (Siobhan Finneran).
Amid the usual romantic shenanigans and funny moments, there are also heart-rending issues for the pals to deal with.
‘There’s a big health storyline that has a massive ripple effect,’ reveals Ripley. ‘It’s challenging, but we’re hopefully unpicking it in as delicate a way as we possibly can.’
Adds Norris: ‘We’re all in it together and you see things from different perspectives. Friendships are stronger when difficult things happen and this year you feel the time and investment that has been put into those relationships.’