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 repeatedly asked her about the show’s potential return following its six-year break, but she expresses strong doubts.
Rumors Swirl But Revival Unlikely
Norris addressed the buzz directly, noting persistent chatter on social media and direct fan encounters. “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 stated.
She acknowledged the appeal for viewers: “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.”
Cast Remains Close Despite Hiatus
The original series aired for five seasons from 1998 to 2003 on ITV, with a revival running from 2016 to 2020. The cast’s bonds endure: “Cold Feet was such an intense shared experience, and we’re all still close. John Thomson comes to stay, and Faye Ripley and I did DNA Journey last year. We have a WhatsApp group, of course.”
Navigating Empty Nest Syndrome
Norris, married to screenwriter and TV producer Simon Wheeler since 2002, opened up about her two 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 with her husband eased concerns: “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 New Projects
Her latest role in BBC’s Pilgrimage: The Road To Holy Island tested her resilience amid menopause and long Covid recovery. “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,” Norris explained.
Now prioritizing wellness, she focuses on strength: “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.
