Hermione Norris, the 59-year-old actress known for portraying Karen Marsden in the ITV comedy-drama Cold Feet, has poured cold water on speculation about a reunion. Fans have bombarded her with questions about the show’s potential return following its six-year break. The series, which chronicles the lives of three interconnected couples, originally aired for five seasons from 1998 to 2003 and was revived from 2016 to 2020.
Cold Feet Comeback Speculation
Rumors have circulated on social media platforms like Facebook, with viewers frequently approaching Norris and her co-stars. She stated, “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.”
Despite the doubts, Norris acknowledged the appeal for loyal fans. “It would be very nice for our audience, everyone who has been on that journey with us, for it to come back. It’s close to them, it mirrors their own lives.” The cast remains tight-knit, with John Thomson visiting regularly, Faye Ripley joining her for a DNA Journey adventure last year, and an active WhatsApp group keeping everyone connected.
Navigating Empty Nest Syndrome
Norris, married to screenwriter and TV producer Simon Wheeler since 2002, recently experienced her two children—Wilf, 21, and Hero, 18—leaving home. She described the transition as “really weird,” noting that her husband feels it too. “The day-to-day life of school, GCSEs, A-levels, those days are gone.”
A recent holiday with her husband eased initial nerves. “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 Recovery and New Ventures
Norris stars in the upcoming BBC series Pilgrimage: The Road to Holy Island, where she tackled physical challenges amid menopause and long Covid recovery. Concerned about her fitness, she worried about daily walks and carrying a backpack. However, trial hikes proved successful. “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, her priorities shifted to 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 to 7.
