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'Cold Feet To Return For New Series 13 Years After Character Rachel's Death,' ITV Confirms

Cold Feet WILL Return - But Six Have Become Five!
Caroline Frost
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'Cold Feet' will be returning to ITV for a new series set 13 years after popular character Rachel's death, ITV have confirmed today, with actors James Nesbitt, Robert Bathurst, Hermione Norris, John Thomson, and Fay Ripley all set for a screen reunion.

The one character whose absence will be sorely missed is Rachel, played by Helen Baxendale, following the character's sudden death in a car crash during the final series five.

The show's original writer Mike Bullen will be once again penning storylines that see the lives of the characters from the hit show brought right up to date in 2016.

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The original show concentrated on the wayward lives of six characters in Manchester

Viewers will learn how Adam (James Nesbitt) has coped in the years since his loved one Rachel's untimely death in 2003, and how he has got on with raising his son alone.

Other characters to catch up with include Pete and Jenny Gifford (John Thomson and Fay Ripley), who've had their own upheavals including affairs on both sides and ultimately a reunion by the end of the show's original run. And viewers will also find out whether estranged couple David and Karen (Robert Bathurst and Hermione Norris) have sorted out their relationship, with three children to look after.

'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(01 of14)
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James Nesbitt played Adam Williams... (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(02 of14)
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Since appearing in ‘Cold Feet’, James has gone on to become one of the country’s most popular actors. He's played the lead role in five series of BBC crime drama ‘Murphy’s Law’, starred as the titular character in a new adaptation of ‘Jekyll’ and also featured in ‘The Passion’, a story of the last week in the life of Jesus. He was most recently seen in 2014’s BAFTA nominated series ‘The Missing’, where James played the father of a missing child. (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(03 of14)
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Helen Baxendale played Rachel Bradley... (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(04 of14)
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At around the same time Helen appeared on ‘Cold Feet’, she landed a guest role as Ross Geller’s girlfriend, Emily, on ‘Friends’ and subsequently had some exposure on US TV. But she returned home to Britain star in more episodes of the ITV drama, before Rachel was killed off in the final season's dramatic car crash. After her exit, Helen said she was taking time out of acting to bring up her young children. After she returned to work three years later, Helen enjoyed guest parts in series such as Agatha Christie’s ‘Marple’ and ‘Poirot’, ‘Lewis’ and ‘Inspector George Gently’. But her most high-profile role was in BBC Three sitcom ‘Cuckoo’, which was recently renewed for a third series. (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(05 of14)
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Fay Ripley played Jenny Gifford... (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(06 of14)
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Fay first left ‘Cold Feet’ in series four, but returned for the funeral of Rachel Bradley in the final series. Since then, the actress has lent her voice to a BBC adaptation of children’s book ‘Fungus The Bogeyman’, starred in sitcom ‘Reggie Perrin’ and had guest roles in ‘New Tricks’, ‘Monday Monday’ and ‘Hustle’. In 2014, she starred in Channel 5’s police procedural drama ‘Suspects’, as well as ITV sitcom ‘The Delivery Man’. (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(07 of14)
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John Thomson played Pete Gifford... (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(08 of14)
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John has enjoyed plenty of success since the end of ‘Cold Feet’, most notably starring in ‘Coronation Street’ as Eileen Grimshaw’s love interest Jesse, and ‘Waterloo Road’ as a parent of one of the students. As well as roles in BBC drama ‘New Street Law’ and the third series of ITV’s ‘Kingdom’ alongside former co-stars Robert Bathurst and Hermione Norris, John has also dabbled in reality TV. He’s appeared on ‘Comic Relief Does Fame Academy’, celebrity survival series ‘71 Degrees North’ and the 2013 series of ‘Celebrity Masterchef’. John was most recently seen playing various characters on ‘The Keith Lemon Sketch Show’. (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(09 of14)
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Hermione Norris played Karen Marsden... (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(10 of14)
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Hermione has arguably had the biggest amount of success since the end of ‘Cold Feet’, appearing alongside Robson Green in crime series ‘Wire In The Blood’, as Ros Myers in BBC spy drama ‘Spooks’ and in ITV drama ‘Kingdom’ as Beatrice Kingdom. She’s also starred in BBC series ‘The Crimson Field’, ‘In The Club’ and ‘Outcasts’, as well as bagging a role in ‘Doctor Who’ episode ‘Kill The Moon’ last year. Hermione recently appeared alongside Robert Bathurst in Sky One's ‘Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death’. (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(11 of14)
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Robert Bathurst played David Marsden... (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(12 of14)
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Robert has had a number of high-profiles in ‘The Pillars of the Earth’, ‘Wild at Heart’, ‘Downton Abbey’ and ‘Poirot’, as well as starring in children’s sitcom ‘My Dad's The Prime Minister’. He’s also returned to the stage, starring in a number of West End productions. Most recently, he appeared in sitcom ‘Blandings’ alongside Timothy Spall, Jennifer Saunders, Tim Vine and Mark Williams and in 2014, he had a minor role in ‘Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie’. (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(13 of14)
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Kimberley Joseph played Jo Ellison... (credit:Rex)
'Cold Feet': Where Are They Now?(14 of14)
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Just two days after filming the final episode of ‘Cold Feet’, Kimberley returned to Australia, where she joined medical soap ‘All Saints’. In 2004, she then began appearing in ‘Lost’ as Cindy Chandler, and featured in 13 episodes before the show ended in 2010. Since then, Kimberley’s appeared in Linkin Park’s video for ‘Castle Of Glass’, and is bringing up her young son Gabriel, who was born in 2013. (credit:Rex)

These popular characters, whose lives drew in millions of viewers during the show's original run from 1998 to 2003, are now approaching their fifties, but writer Mike Bullen promises that life won't be getting any simpler.

He says: “This feels like the right time to revisit these characters, as they tip-toe through the minefield of middle age. They’re 50, but still feel 30, apart from on the morning after the night before, when they really feel their age. They’ve still got lots of life to look forward to, though they’re not necessarily the years one looks forward to!”

Filming will begin in February 2016, with production taking place in Manchester.

Other drama highlights for the new year from ITV include 'HIM', a three-part thriller concerning a teenager discovering love for the first time with his stepsister, complicated by a secret supernatural power inherited from his grandfather, and 'The Good Karma Hospital', a contemporary drama following the lives and loves of a team of British and Indian medics as they struggle to cope at an overcrowded, under-resourced cottage hospital in Goa.

12 TV Dramas For Autumn 2015
War and Peace (BBC One)(01 of12)
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With veteran screenwriter Andrew Davies once again on adaptation duties, and director Tom Harper (Peaky Blinders, Woman in Black) at the helm of Leo Tolstoy's literary masterpiece, this was never going to be small. And with 'Downton's Lily James and ever-excellent James Norton on screen, there is something for everyone. Told over six lavish episodes, Andrew Davies is promising us "a thrilling, funny and heartbreaking story of love, war and family life".
The Affair (Sky Atlantic)(02 of12)
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The engrossing, Golden Globe award-winning first series told us two things... that we all should holiday in Montauk, Long Island, New York State, it's stunning and... we can't trust a word any of these beautiful, brittle characters utter. We catch up with Ruth Wilson and Dominic West, just as it appears that their romantic bliss - hard-earnt at the expense of two marriages - might be interrupted by the small matter of a murder charge...
River (BBC One)(03 of12)
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Sweden's finest Stellan Skarsgard brings his big-screen charisma to this police drama. Yes, he's a troubled, lonely soul who understands his victims more than his colleagues, but... his former partner Jackie Stevenson is beside him, and yet she's not. (I'm not spoiling this!) Jackie's played by Spooks' Nicola Walker, and the script's from Emmy Award-winner Abi Morgan. Doom, gloom and introspection on London's streets.
Dark Angel (ITV)(04 of12)
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She may be donning her customary bonnet for another period drama, but Downton's Joanne Froggatt will be revealing her dark side in this adaptation of real-life tale of Victorian poisoner Mary Ann Cotton, a lady determined to pursue a better life, whose methods leave no visible scars, and anyway... how could a woman be capable of such crimes?
Fargo (Channel 4)(05 of12)
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Despite the plaudits for the first series, 'Fargo's makers have been brave and gone back in time for Series 2, setting events in 1979. There's a brand new cast too. Kirsten Dunst plays Peggy Blomquist, a small town beautician with big dreams. Breaking Bad's Jesse Plemons is her bemused husband, who just happens to a butcher's assistant. Oh dear... Hopefully, this show will enjoy the plaudits of 'Better Call Saul' for its sequel embitions, and not the brickbats of 'True Detective'... watch this space.
Unforgotten (ITV)(06 of12)
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More crime, more Nicola Walker, this time on ITV, with 'Unforgotten', a six-parter focusing on a 'cold' murder case of four decades ago, brought back to light when the bones of a young man are found in the remnants of a demolished house. What did happen in 1976, and what does it say about our changing social preoccupations? Sanjeev Bhaskar, Trevor Eve and Tom Courtenay promise strong performances across the board.
Luther (BBC One)(07 of12)
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He's back! Just when we thought we'd lost Idris Elba for good - either to DJ duties or Hollywood blockbusters, depending on the day - here he is, going for a fourth spin as DCI John Luther, this time a very troubled man, haunted by previous events and hell-bent on retribution. Where's Alice (Ruth Wilson) when he needs her?
Homeland (Channel 4)(08 of12)
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After a wayward third season, 'Homeland' found its firm footing once again last season, and long may it last. Series 5 picks up two years after Carrie's ill-fated tenure as Islamabad bureau chief for the CIA. Now we find her hanging out in Berlin, probably earning a fortune looking after the security of a German philanthropist, but struggling with guilt and disillusionment. Sounds like she's ripe for one of THOSE calls from Saul...
The Returned (Channel 4)(09 of12)
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French supernatural thriller returns, picking up six months after the deceased (Les Revenants of the title) disappeared into the mounts, taking along a few of the town's less spooky inhabitants. While this thriller finds an easy footing in the supernatural slots of the schedule, make no mistake, it continues to be a drama of grief, recovery and the dilemma of moving on...
Maigret (ITV)(10 of12)
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The top reason for this one making our pick... Rowan Atkinson. The shy comedic actor has proved his hit-making chops over and over again, yet we see surprisingly little of him on our screens. So this was a cunning scoop by ITV bosses, to recruit him as French fictional detective Jules Maigret in two two-hour specials. The character first appeared in print in 1931, and Georges Simenon produced 75 novels starring him in total, so, cross fingers, if all goes well...
The Last Panthers (Sky Atlantic)(11 of12)
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Brand new, original drama starring Samantha Morton, Tahar Rahim and John Hurt, opening with a daring diamond heist before quickly delving into the dark heart of Europe where a shadowy alliance of gangsters and ‘banksters’ now rule. It originated from an idea from celebrated French journalist Jerome Pierrat and the screenplay is written by award winning writer and co-creator Jack Thorne (whose credits include 'Skins' and 'This Is England').
Downton Abbey (ITV)(12 of12)
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Err... did we mention this will be the sixth and final series of Julian Fellowes' world-conquering drama of the classes? Everyone involved is promising things will go out with a bang, romantically speaking, but without some sort of soul-destroying armageddon. As long as Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes finally tie the knot, we'll all be okay...

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