'We're Like Family ...Warts And All'

Fay ripley and her Cold Feet friends tackle more of life’s pressing issues…

- Victoria Wilson and Johnathon Hughes

After a 13-year absence, comedy drama Cold Feet made a triumphant return to our screens last year. The intervening years hadn’t dented the show’s popularity at all, and it pulled in more than seven million viewers on ITV.

With success like that, and a loyal legion of fans who are, naturally, eager for more, the show is back for its seventh series this week, 20 years since the first episode introduced us to the five Manchester mates – Pete, Karen, David, Jenny and Adam.

‘It was heartwarming to know that an audience that had been away from these characters for years had accepted them straight back into their lives,’ says James Nesbitt, who returns as unluckyin-love Adam. ‘It proved that people still love these characters, and can relate to their stories and the issues they have.’

TV&Satellite Week met up with the cast to discover what lies ahead for the five friends…

PETE

(John Thomson)

John, what response did you get from the public to Pete’s depression storyline?

It was incredible, especially on social media. I couldn’t believe how frank and open people were. One guy told me: ‘I’ve been feeling near suicidal for a few months and I’ve decided to see my doctor’. I was overwhelmed.

Is Pete still struggling with his mental health?