Hermione Norris, the 59-year-old actress known for her role as Karen Marsden in the ITV comedy-drama Cold Feet, has dismissed speculation about a reunion following the show’s six-year break. Fans frequently approach her and co-star James Nesbitt, inquiring if the series tracking the lives of three intertwined couples will return.
Cold Feet Speculation and Cast Bonds
Norris addressed the buzz, noting, ‘There have been rumours on Facebook, and people keep coming up to us and saying, “I gather Cold Feet is coming back” – but, like anything, we’d be the last people to know. I very much doubt it would come back.’
She added that a revival would delight viewers, as the show closely reflects their experiences. The cast remains tight-knit: John Thomson visits regularly, she and Faye Ripley explored their DNA last year, and they maintain a WhatsApp group. The series originally aired five seasons from 1998 to 2003 on ITV, with a revival running from 2016 to 2020.
Empty Nest Challenges
Norris, married to screenwriter and producer Simon Wheeler since 2002, discussed her children Wilf, 21, and Hero, 18, leaving home. ‘It is really weird that our children have left home. My husband feels it. The day-to-day life of school, GCSEs, A-levels, those days are gone,’ she shared.
A recent holiday eased concerns about their relationship. ‘I felt quite nervous before my husband and I went on holiday recently, to be honest, but it was really easy and nice just to be together. As a couple, you think, “Will we still like each other?” because, for years, it’s all about the functionality and dynamics of a family. It becomes about everyone else.’
Health Journey and Latest Project
Currently filming Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island for BBC, Norris navigated challenges from menopause and long Covid. ‘I’m not great at extreme discomfort. I had long Covid a few years ago, so I was worried about my physical fitness and the demands of walking so much every day, plus carrying the backpack. But we did a couple of massive walks and I was fine. I was pleasantly surprised.’
Post-illness, she prioritizes wellness: ‘Having been ill [with long Covid], my focus is on being well and healthy. It’s about exercising, not to make me look good but to keep me strong. I stretch a lot, and I’ve really got to start lifting weights. I also use an infrared sauna for my autoimmune condition. I get really stiff joints. I’m so much better after the long Covid, but I feel different, physiologically. It gave me a shock, as I’ve always been quite fit and strong.’
Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island airs on BBC Two from April 5-7.
