Cold Feet 456555 221493235 2008-06-24T19:14:13Z Bradley0110 6440317 /* Filming */ that sounded quite bad before {{for|the feeling of anxiety|Cold feet}} {{Infobox Television | show_name = Cold Feet | image = [[Image:Cold Feet titles.png|250px]]<!-- Fair use rationale on image page --> | genre = [[Comedy drama]] | creator = [[Mike Bullen]] | starring = [[James Nesbitt]]<br />[[Helen Baxendale]]<br />[[John Thomson (comedian)|John Thomson]]<br />[[Fay Ripley]]<br />[[Robert Bathurst]]<br />[[Hermione Norris]]<br />[[Kimberley Joseph]] | endtheme = "[[Female of the Species]]" by [[Space (indie rock band)|Space]]/<br />"Cold Feet Theme" | composer = [[Mark Russell (composer)|Mark Russell]] | country = [[United Kingdom]] | language = [[English language|English]]<br />[[Spanish language|Spanish]] <small>(some scenes)</small> | num_series = 5 | num_episodes = 32 | list_episodes = List of Cold Feet episodes | executive_producer = [[Andy Harries]]<br />[[Christine Langan]] <small>(2000)</small> | co_exec = Andy Harries <small>(2000)</small><br />Mike Bullen <small>(2000)</small> | producer = Christine Langan <small>(1998 – 1999)</small><br />[[Spencer Campbell]]<br />Emma Benson | asst_producer = David Meddick | camera = [[Multiple-camera setup|Multiple]] | network = [[ITV]] | picture_format = [[PAL]] ([[576i]]) | audio_format = [[NICAM]] [[stereophonic sound|stereo]] | company = [[Granada Television]] | first_aired = [[15 November]] [[1998]] | last_aired = [[16 March]] [[2003]] | preceded_by = ''[[Pilot (Cold Feet)|Cold Feet]]'' | related = [[Cold Feet (U.S. TV series)|''Cold Feet'' (U.S. TV series)]] | imdb_id = 0168596 }} '''''Cold Feet''''' is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[comedy drama]] television series produced by [[Granada Television]] for [[ITV]]. It was created by [[Mike Bullen]], who also wrote most of the episodes, and produced by [[Christine Langan]], [[Spencer Campbell]] and Emma Benson. The series began on [[15 November]] [[1998]], following the successful [[Pilot (Cold Feet)|one-off television pilot]] broadcast in 1997, and ran for [[List of Cold Feet episodes|32 episodes]] before concluding on [[16 March]] [[2003]]. The series is set in [[Manchester]] and follows three couples, played by an [[ensemble cast]], who have trouble with committing to each other however hard they try. The cast were not widely known before their appearances in the series but their careers received significant boosts; most of the actors received [[British Comedy Award]] nominations and [[James Nesbitt]] won Best TV Comedy Actor three times. The series was and remains critically acclaimed, winning multiple British Comedy Awards, [[TRIC Awards]], and the [[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series]]. It maintained consistently high viewing figures, regularly beating other channels in head-to-head ratings battles. Bullen, an inexperienced screenwriter, developed the series as something for people of his class and generation—middle-class thirty-somethings—to watch, as an alternative to [[soap operas]] and [[costume drama]]s. Other British screenwriters, including [[Danny Brocklehurst]], cite ''Cold Feet'' as an influence on their writing. The series was a springboard for the careers of many directors, including [[Tom Hooper (director)|Tom Hooper]]. It has been broadcast in over 34 countries and the format sold to producers in the [[United States]] and [[Italy]]; American network [[NBC]] co-produced [[Cold Feet (U.S. TV series)|a version]] that was cancelled after four episodes were aired. Spin-off merchandise has been released, including DVDs, books and soundtracks. ==Production== The award-winning [[Pilot (Cold Feet)|pilot]] was conceived when [[Granada Television]]'s head of comedy [[Andy Harries]] sought a television series that would reflect the lives of people from his generation; young professionals who were moving in together for the first time and settling down into family life.<ref name="T9">Tibballs, pp. 9 – 11</ref> [[Mike Bullen]] had written a one-off comedy drama in 1995 called ''The Perfect Match'' that features characters from the age group Harries was looking for, so a meeting was set up between Bullen and Granada producer [[Christine Langan]]. Bullen pitched ''Cold Feet'' as "boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy wins girl back", using a series of "cutaway gags" and flashbacks to tell the same story from a different point of view.<ref>Tibballs, p. 7</ref> The initial pitch was based around Adam and Rachel, which would have limited a series appeal, so Harries suggested adding self-contained plots for the other four characters that could be continued should a series be commissioned. Bullen admits to having "tacked on" the plots to the finished script.<ref name="Bullen Final Call">{{cite video |people= [[Mike Bullen|Bullen, Mike]]|year=2003|title=Cold Feet: The Final Call| medium=Documentary|publisher=Granada Television}}</ref> The pilot was directed by [[Declan Lowney]] and filmed in 1996, before being shelved for a year by ITV Network Centre. It was broadcast late on [[30 March]] [[1997]], getting only 3.5 million viewers and little critical attention. Harries submitted it to the jury at the Montreux Television Festival and it was awarded the [[Rose d'Or]], the highest accolade of the festival. A six-part series was commissioned by ITV in late 1997 for broadcast in November 1998.<ref name="T9"/> ===Casting=== {{see also|List of Cold Feet cast members}} The original six cast from the pilot episode returned to the series, all playing the same characters. [[John Thomson (comedian)|John Thomson]] had appeared in ''The Perfect Match'' in what Bullen describes as a "proto-Pete role" and Langan "begged him to write a role with [him] in mind".<ref>Smith, p. 6</ref><ref>Tibballs, p. 12</ref> Throughout 1998 [[Helen Baxendale]] (Rachel) had appeared as a recurring guest on the [[United States|American]] [[situation comedy]] ''[[Friends]]'', considerably raising her profile in the UK. [[Robert Bathurst]] (David) had displayed a "disciplined comic energy" as the lead character in the mid-1990s sitcom ''[[Joking Apart]]'',<ref>Smith, p. 63</ref> while [[Fay Ripley]] (Jenny) and [[Hermione Norris]] (Karen) had established themselves in smaller roles. Since the pilot aired [[James Nesbitt]] (Adam) had made several appearances in the [[BBC Northern Ireland]] series ''[[Ballykissangel]]''. The first series added [[Jacey Salles]] as Ramona Ramirez, Karen and David's eccentric [[Spanish people|Spanish]] nanny. She had appeared in another Granada production, ''The Misadventures of Margaret'' (playing another eccentric Spaniard), and was cast after she "did a bit of comic bastardisation of the English language" in her audition. Initially contracted for only two episodes, Salles appeared in 27 of the series' 32 episodes.<ref>Smith, p. 120</ref> Recurring characters appeared throughout the run of the series, including characters played by [[Lennie James]], [[Mel Martin]] and [[Ben Miles]].<ref>James appeared in two episodes of the first series, Martin in three of the third, and Miles in seven of the third.</ref> [[Doreen Keogh]] played Pete's mum Audrey in a first series episode and was brought back three more times based on the successful on-screen chemistry between her and Thomson.<ref name="Campbell DVD"/> During production of the fourth series Ripley announced she was quitting to pursue other projects, so a replacement actress was found by [[Spencer Campbell]], who travelled to [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] to audition [[Australia]]-based actress [[Kimberley Joseph]]. Joseph was hired to play Jo Ellison, the new love interest for Pete.<ref name="S170">Smith, pp. 170 – 171</ref> ===Writing=== An inexperienced screenwriter, Bullen was aided by several script editors during the first series. He based the characters and situations on experiences from his own life; Pete was based on a friend he had known since childhood, and Karen and David on a couple he knew. Rachel was written as a combination of the qualities Bullen saw in a "fantasy girlfriend" while Adam was based on how Bullen himself behaved in his twenties.<ref name="Bullen Final Call"/> Storylines were also drawn from the lives of the production crew; the midlife crisis experienced by David in the second series was inspired by an unnamed crew member and the [[intracytoplasmic sperm injection|ICSI]] storyline in the third series was inspired by a similar process that Harries and his wife went through.<ref name="Campbell DVD">{{cite video |people= [[Spencer Campbell|Campbell, Spencer]]|year=2003|title=Interview on bonus disc of "Cold Feet: The Complete Story" DVD| medium=DVD|publisher=Granada Ventures Ltd}}</ref> By the time pre-production on the third series began, Bullen had grown tired of writing the series single-handedly and believed all the stories that could be told had been told. ITV were keen to increase the number of episodes per series to 15 but Granada refused, though did agree to add two more, bringing the total to eight. A writing team of five was assembled, overseen by Bullen. Four of the scriptwriters were deemed not good enough and they parted company with Granada. [[David Nicholls (writer)|David Nicholls]] remained, scripting four of the eight third series episodes (Bullen wrote the other four, his interest in the series revived).<ref name="Bullen Observer">{{cite news|first= Mike|last= Bullen|authorlink= Mike Bullen|title= Mike Bullen on Cold Feet: Cold comfort fame|url= http://observer.guardian.co.uk/screen/story/0,6903,389312,00.html|work= [[The Observer]]|date= [[2000-10-29]]|accessdate=2007-12-02}}</ref> Nicholls did not return for the fourth and fifth series, replaced by [[Mark Chappell]] and Matt Greenhalgh who each co-wrote an episode with Bullen.<ref>Smith, p. 182</ref><ref>Smith, p. 246</ref> ===Filming=== Filming took place at Granada's Manchester studios and on location in the city centre for five months a year.<ref name="Harries DVD"/> Standing sets were constructed in a large warehouse and were designed by Chris Truelove to reflect the characters. Karen and David's home was designed as a spacious detached house intended to be located in [[Bowdon, Greater Manchester|Bowdon]], [[Greater Manchester]], while Pete and Jenny, and Adam and Rachel had smaller middle-class abodes intended to be located in the fictional "Clough End" suburb of Manchester.<ref>Smith, pp. 106 – 109</ref> Langan was keen to avoid a generic sitcom style of filming, citing the formulae of such programmes as "tired and dreary" and lacking emotional depth.<ref name="Carter Independent">{{cite news|first= Meg|last= Carter|title= On Air: Our friends in the North|url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19981109/ai_n14190915|work= [[The Independent]] (at Find Articles)|date= [[1998-11-09]]|accessdate= 2007-12-02}}</ref> To achieve this goal, she and Harries recruited directors with little background in television. These included [[Nigel Cole]], who came from an advertising background and was keen to use the two episodes of the first series he was alloted to "make his mark" and establish himself as a serious director.<ref>{{cite video |people= [[Nigel Cole|Cole, Nigel]]|year=2003|title=Cold Feet: The Final Call| medium=Documentary|publisher=Granada Television}}</ref> Cole won an audience award at the 2000 [[Sundance Film Festival]] for his work on ''[[Saving Grace (2000 film)|Saving Grace]]''. Other directors included [[Tom Hooper (director)|Tom Hooper]], who won an [[Emmy Award]] in 2006 for his direction of ''[[Elizabeth I (TV series)|Elizabeth I]]'', and [[Ciaran Donnelly (director)|Ciaran Donnelly]] who won an [[IFTA Awards|Irish Film and Television Award]] in 2007 for his serial ''Stardust''.<ref>{{cite web|title= 2006 Creative Arts & Primetime Emmy Awards winners|url= http://www.emmys.tv/awards/2006pt/nominations58.php|work= Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|accessdate= 2007-12-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The 4th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards winners|url= http://www.ifta.ie/awards/winnersdocs/4thAnnualIrishFilm&TelevisionAwardsWinners.pdf|work= IFTA|page= 3|accessdate= 2007-12-02}}</ref> Exterior location filming in Manchester city centre incorporated many modern buildings and settings as a backdrop, taking advantage of the economic boom the city went through in the 1990s.<ref name="Harries DVD"/> A successful location shoot on [[Lindisfarne]] for the final episode of the second series lead to the producers agreeing to film away from Manchester at least once a series.<ref name="Harries DVD">{{cite video |people= [[Andy Harries|Harries, Andy]]|year=2003|title=Interview on bonus disc of "Cold Feet: The Complete Story" DVD| medium=DVD|publisher=Granada Ventures Ltd}}</ref> This lead to a stag weekend storyline being filmed in [[Portrush]] for the third series, a location suggested by James Nesbitt, who spent his childhood summers there.<ref name="Campbell DVD"/> Between the third and fourth series, Bullen and Harries did a speaking tour in the [[Far East]] and Australia and as a result decided to work a trip to Sydney into the storyline of the fourth series because Australia was "a nice place to go".<ref name="Harries DVD"/> The main cast and a skeleton production crew were flown out to Sydney to film on location in 2001.<ref name="Campbell DVD"/> ===Music=== [[Space (indie rock band)|Space]]'s single "[[Female of the Species]]" continued to be used as the theme tune after it was used in the pilot. Langan selected the track after hearing it on ''[[The Chart Show]]'' and remained in overall charge of music featured in the series during her time as producer.<ref name="S65">Smith, p. 65</ref> [[Mark Russell (composer)|Mark Russell]] scored incidental music and an alternative main theme, which was nominated for a [[BAFTA Television Award|BAFTA Award]] for Best Original Television Music in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title= Television Nominations 1999|url= http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=1999|work= [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]]|date= 1999|accessdate= 2007-11-30}}</ref> ==Plot summary== {{see also|List of Cold Feet episodes}} The [[Cold Feet (series 1)|first series]] opens with the characters addressing the viewer, recapping the events of the pilot episode and aided by clips from it. A continuing plot of the first series depicts Adam and Rachel settling down together as they move into their first home. Pete and Jenny bring up Baby Adam, born in the first episode, and Karen and David hit a rocky patch in their marriage when each almost commits adultery. A brief romantic moment is established between Jenny and Adam in the final episode when they kiss. Rachel discovers that she is pregnant and leaves Manchester and Adam. The second series, broadcast a year later, establishes that nine months have passed on screen. Rachel returns to Manchester and tells Adam she had an abortion, apparently ending their relationship for good. The two reconcile in the fifth episode. Pete has an affair with a colleague after Jenny tells him she no longer loves him, and Karen and David cope following his redundancy. Pete moves out in the third series as he and Jenny go through a trial separation. She starts seeing businessman Robert Brown while Pete goes to [[salsa (dance)|Salsa]] classes with Ramona, the Marsden's [[nanny]]. Adam and Rachel decide to get married and he almost gets [[cold feet (metaphor)|cold feet]] when he meets an ex-girlfriend on his stag weekend. David has an affair with political activist Jessica Barnes, which is revealed at Adam and Rachel's wedding reception. The repercussions continue through the [[Cold Feet (series 4)|fourth series]]; Karen asks David to move out of the house and [[alcoholism|turns to alcohol]], eventually embarking on an affair with a publisher. Jenny moves away and Pete starts seeing Rachel's friend Jo, who proposes to him in [[Australia]]. The two marry in the extended finale and Rachel gives birth in the same episode. The fourth series was intended to be the last but pressure on Mike Bullen resulted in it coming back for a [[Cold Feet (series 5)|final series]] of four episodes in 2003.<ref name="Harries DVD"/> Adam and Rachel learn parenting skills as they bring up baby Matthew while Pete and Jo's fledgling marriage deteriorates. Karen and David seek a divorce from one another, beginning new lives without each other. Rachel is killed in a car accident in the penultimate episode and each of the characters mourn her. The characters each go their separate ways in the finale, and Jenny returns to be with Pete. ==Characters== The six core characters were devised to be "regular people, not distinguished by their careers or by crime" and were based on people from Mike Bullen's life.<ref name="S65"/> All were introduced in the pilot episode, though the main plot of that focuses mostly on Adam and Rachel, with little screentime given to the other four characters. Occasionally the characters break the [[fourth wall]], addressing the viewers.<ref>Specifically in [[List of Cold Feet episodes#ep1|Series 1, Episode 1]] and [[List of Cold Feet episodes#ep18|Series 3, Episode 6]].</ref> *'''Adam Williams''' (played by '''[[James Nesbitt]]''') is a womanising "systems analyst" in the pilot, who meets and settles down with Rachel Bradley. Nesbitt was keen to play the role "with no political baggage", believing there to be few Irish characters in contemporary British drama with no connection to [[The Troubles]].<ref>Smith, p. 27</ref> Over the run of the series Adam recovers from [[testicular cancer]] and commits to Rachel, despite frequent infidelity with ex-girlfriends and women he meets in bars. *'''Rachel Bradley''' (played by '''[[Helen Baxendale]]''') meets Adam after crashing her car into his in a supermarket car park. Baxendale had no experience in comedy and was criticised for her lack of comic range.<ref name="Baxendale Final Call">{{cite video |people= [[Helen Baxendale|Baxendale, Helen]]|year=2003|title=Cold Feet: The Final Call|medium= Documentary|publisher= Granada Television}}</ref><ref name="Barber Independent">{{cite news|first= Nicholas|last= Barber|title= Comedy drama: What's less believable than Dr Who?|url= http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19981122/ai_n14197962|work= [[The Independent]] (at Find Articles)|date= [[1998-11-22]]|accessdate= 2007-02-10}}</ref> Rachel works for an advertising company, though this features little in the storylines. Her one-night-stand with her ex-husband in the first series leads to an abortion, which causes friction between her and Adam. She gives birth to her first child in the fourth series and dies in the final series after a car accident. *'''Pete Gifford''' (played by '''[[John Thomson (comedian)|John Thomson]]''') is a childhood friend of Adam's, who often joins his friend at the pub. Pete has often lived in the shadow of his more popular friend and the two have a brief fall-out in the second series over Adam's attraction to his wife Jenny. His affair with a co-worker in the second series eventually leads to his and Jenny's divorce in the fourth series, though they are reunited in the final episode. *'''Jenny Gifford''' (played by '''[[Fay Ripley]]''') is Pete's unglamorous wife, played by Ripley to be "slightly unlikeable".<ref name="Ripley Final Call">{{cite video |people= [[Fay Ripley|Ripley, Fay]]|year=2003|title=Cold Feet: The Final Call|medium= Documentary|publisher= Granada Television}}</ref> Jenny gives birth to hers and Pete's first child in the first episode and much of the first series revolves around bringing up the child in his first few months. Following Pete's affair they have a trial separation in the third series, and she starts seeing a [[dot-com]] millionaire. Seeing no future in Manchester, she takes a job in [[New York City]] in the fourth series, taking her son and leaving Pete. She returns in the final episode after a bad break up. Thomson and Ripley describe the Giffords as "all ego and vanity" in reference to the large amount of personal photographs they keep around their house.<ref>{{cite video |people= [[John Thomson (comedian)|Thomson, John]]; [[Fay Ripley]]|year=2002|title=Cold Feet Backstage| medium=DVD|publisher=Granada Interactive}}</ref> *'''David Marsden''' (played by '''[[Robert Bathurst]]''') was undeveloped in the pilot script, with a single character note explaining his "high figure earnings".<ref name="Bathurst Final Call">{{cite video |people= [[Robert Bathurst|Bathurst, Robert]]|year=2003|title=Cold Feet: The Final Call|medium= Documentary|publisher= Granada Television}}</ref> His relationship with his wife Karen deteriorates in the first series after both consider infidelity but improves in the second series when he is made redundant. Taking up community politics in the third series, he has an affair with a local activist, to the detriment of his marriage. He begins divorce proceedings with Karen in the fifth series, leaving her to start a new relationship with his solicitor. *'''Karen Marsden''' (played by '''[[Hermione Norris]]''') is a housebound mother in the first series, returning to work as a publisher in the fourth episode. Following David's affair, she starts seeing another man in the fourth series, and the two divorce in the fifth series. Due to Baxendale's absence in a fourth series episode, Karen is the only female character to appear in all episodes. *'''Jo Ellison''' (played by '''[[Kimberley Joseph]]''') is introduced in the first episode of the fourth series as one of Rachel's co-workers. She and Karen become friends and she moves in with a single Pete when she is evicted. The two marry in the final episode of the fourth series but he asks for a divorce in the fifth series when she sleeps with a colleague. Jo was originally scripted as a "truck-driving lesbian" type, but the character was toned down when Bullen met Joseph.<ref name="S170"/> An assortment of recurring characters were established, starting with Ramona, Karen and David's nanny, played by [[Jacey Salles]], in the first series. Ramona is portrayed as unaccustomed to English social functions, spending hours making long-distance phone calls to her mother in [[Spain]] and having loud [[subtitle (captioning)|subtitled]] arguments with her boyfriend Javier. Bathurst and Salles established an upstairs-downstairs relationship between their characters; Bathurst would never look Salles in the eye during a scene in order to maintain an artificial distance between David and Ramona, while the scripts depicted David speaking to Ramona indirectly through other people.<ref name="Bathurst Final Call"/> A larger storyline was written for Ramona in the third series and Salles was added to the opening credits in the fourth. [[Ben Miles]] and [[Yasmin Bannerman]] appeared throughout most of the third series as major characters, playing Robert Brown and Jessica Barnes respectively. [[Sean Pertwee]] appeared as Mark Cubbit for four fourth series episodes and two fifth series episodes, and [[Lucy Robinson (actress)|Lucy Robinson]] and [[Richard Armitage (actor)|Richard Armitage]] played Robyn Duff and Lee, respectively, in the final series. ==Reception== ===Critical reaction=== Early reviews of the series were negative; discussing the first episode on ''[[The Late Show (BBC TV series)|The Late Review]]'', [[Germaine Greer]] called Nesbitt "especially awful" and [[Tony Parsons (British journalist)|Tony Parsons]] expressed disappointment that Nesbitt had not fallen from a scissor lift, that Adam appeared on in the opening scene, and fallen to his death. Offended by the comments, Nesbitt rebutted in an interview with comments about Parsons' attitude.<ref name="Dowle Times">{{cite news|first= Jayne|last= Dowle|title= Call me Jimmy – The Big Interview|work= [[The Times]]|date= [[1999-03-06]]|accessdate= 2007-11-06}}</ref> Nicholas Barber, a writer for ''[[The Independent]]'', criticised the characters as smug and suggested that Bullen had no imagination when reviewing the first episode, though praised Ripley's performance in other first series episodes.<ref name="Barber Independent"/> Reviews picked up in the first year as critics grasped the comedy-drama format; [[Paul Hoggart]] in ''[[The Times]]'' praised the impotence storyline and compared the direction of the episodes to ''[[This Life]]'', and previewed the second series with positive remarks about the series trademark fantasy scenes.<ref>{{cite news|first= Paul|last= Hoggart|authorlink= Paul Hoggart|title= Cold feet, Cold War, warm congratulations|work= [[The Times]]|date= [[1998-11-30]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first= Paul|last= Hoggart|authorlink= Paul Hoggart|title= Who needs news when there's stories to be spun?|work= [[The Times]]|date= [[1999-09-27]]|quote= Conversations are cleverly intercut with characters describing those conversations to other characters later. "Real" events are seamlessly blended with characters' fantasies. The multiple plot lines constantly toy with our expectations in a series of constantly shifting "takes" on reality.}}</ref> The fantasy cutaway scenes, added by Bullen for sophistication and credence,<ref>{{cite video |people= [[Mike Bullen|Bullen, Mike]]|year=2003|title=Cold Feet Backstage| medium=DVD|publisher=Granada Broadband}}</ref> were positively received by critics.<ref name="Carter Independent"/><ref name="Lawson Guardian Feb03"/> In the ''Journal of British Cinema and Television'' Greg M. Smith identifies them as having matured considerably by the fourth series and cites (among other examples) David's blind ambition for his family to emigrate to Australia as an example of how the fantasies polarise viewers to ally with a particular character. Smith also describes the fantasies as being less common in serials as they are in [[soap operas]].<ref>{{cite journal |first= Greg M.|last= Smith|year= 2006|title= A Case of Cold Feet: Serial Narration and the Character Arc|journal= Journal of British Cinema and Television|url= http://www2.gsu.edu/~jougms/coldfeet.pdf|volume= 3|issue= 1|pages= 82–94|accessdate= 2007-12-03|doi= 10.3366/JBCTV.2006.3.1.82}}</ref> {{quote box2 |width=30em | bgcolor=#c6dbf7 |align=right |halign=left | quote= "Cold Feet proved that you didn't have to have a high concept to make compelling, heartwarming, sometimes profound drama. And, while the show dealt with issues such adoption, alcoholism and testicular cancer, it was always at its most successful when bouncing playfully between the three couples, neatly exposing the differences between men and women." |source= — [[Danny Brocklehurst]]<ref name="Brocklehurst Guardian"/> }} In a 2007 feature for ''[[The Guardian]]'', renowned screenwriter [[Danny Brocklehurst]] discussed the impact the series has had on British television, including inspiration for one of his programmes, ''[[Talk to Me (TV series)|Talk to Me]]''. He opined that there had not been a significant television series depicting "the wants and needs of ordinary young adults" since the American series ''[[Thirtysomething (TV series)|Thirtysomething]]'' concluded its run in 1991. Brocklehurst developed ''Talk to Me'' in the same manner as Bullen developed ''Cold Feet'', namely by basing its characters on his own experiences and friends.<ref name="Brocklehurst Guardian">{{cite news|first= Danny|last= Brocklehurst|authorlink=Danny Brocklehurst|title= The decade that television forgot|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2007/jun/06/broadcasting.tvandradio|work= [[The Guardian]]|date= [[2007-06-06]]|accessdate= 2007-12-01}}</ref> Both Brocklehurst and television critic [[Mark Lawson]] have discussed similar "copycat" series, including ''Hearts and Bones'', ''Metropolis'', ''Couples'' and ''Wonderful You''. Brocklehurst noted that these series "lacked [Cold Feet's] warmth and believability" adding that they were "unrealistic and cynical".<ref name="Brocklehurst Guardian"/> Other critics hailed it as "the British answer to ''Thirtysomething''", precursing Brocklehurst's comments; in 1998, Meg Carter wrote in ''[[The Independent]]'', "More than 10 years on, Granada Television has finally produced a modern show that mines the rich seam of a generation that is as confused as it is liberated by increased choice and freedom, and that caters for an audience which has not, traditionally, watched very much ITV".<ref name="Carter Independent"/> Lawson compared it to the American sitcom ''[[Friends]]'', a series that is also based around three men and three women and featured Helen Baxendale in a guest role.<ref name="Lawson Guardian Feb03">{{cite news|first= Mark|last= Lawson|authorlink= Mark Lawson|title= Mark Lawson on Cold Feet|url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv_and_radio/story/0,,896945,00.html|work= [[The Guardian]]|date= [[2003-02-23]]|accessdate= 2007-12-02}}</ref> When he questioned Bullen on whether ''Friends'' influenced ''Cold Feet'', Bullen explained that the connection was made by media as "a useful shorthand", that he was irritated by the characters in ''Friends'' and "would liked to have taken a baseball bat to them".<ref name="Front Row">{{cite interview |last= Bullen|first= Mike|subjectlink= Mike Bullen|interviewer= [[Mark Lawson]]|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/arts/frontrow/ram/2004/frontrow20040216_mike_bullen.ram|title= Front Row|city= London|date= [[2004-02-16]]|program= [[BBC Radio 4]]}}</ref> ===Awards=== The series won over 20 awards,<ref>{{cite video |people= [[Max Beesley|Beesley, Max]] (narrator)|year=2003|title=Cold Feet: The Final Call| medium=Documentary||publisher=Granada Television}}</ref> including the [[British Comedy Award]] for Best TV Comedy Drama in 1999,<ref>{{cite web|title= British Comedy Awards 1999 winners|url= http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/pastwinners99.html|work= [[British Comedy Awards]]|accessdate= 2007-12-03}}</ref> 2000,<ref name="BCA2000">{{cite web|title= British Comedy Awards 2000 winners|url= http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/pastwinners00.html|work= [[British Comedy Awards]]|accessdate= 2007-12-03}}</ref> and 2003.<ref name="BCA03">{{cite web|title= British Comedy Awards 2003 winners|url= http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/pastwinners03.html|work= [[British Comedy Awards]]|accessdate= 2007-12-03}}</ref> Three of the cast received Best Comedy performance nominations at the 2001 ceremony but did not win, though the series was awarded the AOL People's Choice Award.<ref name="Bright Observer">{{cite news|first= Matt|last= Bright|title= Cold Feet frozen out as Skinner has the last laugh|url= http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,619717,00.html|work= [[The Observer]]|date= [[2001-12-16]]|accessdate= 2007-12-03}}</ref> Mike Bullen was awarded the Writer of the Year award at the 2003 ceremony,<ref name="BCA03"/> and he, Campbell and Harries collected the prestigious [[British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title= Television Nominations 2001|url= http://www.bafta.org/awards/television/nominations/?year=2001|work= [[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]]|date= 2002|accessdate= 2007-11-30}}</ref> The [[Royal Television Society]] presented the production staff with the award for Best TV Situation Comedy/Drama in 1999 and the prize for Best Sound in a Drama in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Situation Comedy/Drama|url= http://www.rts.org.uk/awards_det.asp?id=1174&sec_id=340|work=[[Royal Television Society]]|accessdate= 2007-12-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Best Sound - Drama|url= http://www.rts.org.uk/awards_det.asp?id=786&sec_id=222|work=[[Royal Television Society]]|accessdate= 2007-12-03}}</ref> The [[Broadcasting Press Guild]] presented it with the Best Entertainment gong in 1999 (jointly with the [[BBC]] [[sketch comedy]] ''[[Goodness Gracious Me (TV & radio)|Goodness Gracious Me]]'').<ref>{{cite web|title= Broadcasting Press Guild Awards 1999|url= http://www.broadcastingpressguild.org/awards/1999.html|work= Broadcasting Press Guild|date= 1999|accessdate= 2007-12-03}}</ref> The [[Television and Radio Industries Club]] named it TV Comedy Programme of the Year in 2000.<ref>{{cite news|last=Staff writer|title= Dinosaurs walk off with award|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/677397.stm|work= [[BBC News Online]]|date= [[2000-03-14]]|accessdate= 2007-12-03}}</ref> ==International versions== Granada Entertainment USA, the American arm of [[Granada Productions]], tendered the series format to American networks and cable channels from late 1997.<ref>{{cite news|first= Adam|last= Dawtrey|title= Granada in green|url= http://www.variety.com/article/VR111662082.html?categoryid=19&cs=1|work= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date= [[1997-11-18]]|accessdate= 2007-12-02 }}</ref> The format was sold to [[NBC]], which commissioned 13 60-minute episodes in May 1999 for the fall season, to be produced in association with Kerry Ehrin Productions.<ref>{{cite news|last= Staff writer|title= NBC gets Cold Feet from Granada USA|work= [[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]]|date= [[1999-05-21]]}}</ref> [[Cold Feet (U.S. TV series)|The U.S. series]] starred [[David Sutcliffe]] as Adam Williams and [[Jean Louisa Kelly]] as Shelley Sullivan (the Rachel role). Low ratings lead to the series being cancelled after four episodes.<ref name="Adalian Variety">{{cite news|first= Josef|last= Adalian|title= NBC ices 'Cold Feet'|url= http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117757615.html?categoryid=14&cs=1|work= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date= [[1999-11-02]]|accessdate= 2007-12-02 }}</ref> In 2003 the format was sold to [[Italy|Italian]] network [[Mediaset]] for a 2004 broadcast.<ref>{{cite news|last= Staff writer|title= Getting Cold feet in Italy|work= [[Broadcast (magazine)|Broadcast]] |date= [[2003-11-13]]}}</ref> In 2008, [[Poland|Polish]] broadcaster [[TVN (Poland)|TVN]] secured the rights to a remake from Granada International.<ref>{{cite news|author= DS|title= Warm Welcome For 'Cold Feet' In Poland|url= http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?id=71878|work=4RFV|date= [[2008-02-19]]|accessdate= 2008-02-19}}</ref> ==Merchandise== The first of four tie-in books was released in 1999 by André Deutsch Publishing, under licence from Granada Media. ''Cold Feet: A Guide to Life'' (ISBN 0233997326) is "flipbook" format, compiled by Jonathan Rice from Bullen's script and presented as if written by the characters. Rice compiled a similar book, published in 2002, called ''The Little Book of "Cold Feet": Life Rules'' (ISBN 0233050884). Geoff Tibballs, who had previously written television tie-in books, compiled ''Cold Feet: The Best Bits'' (ISBN 0233999248), featuring behind-the-scenes information from the first two series, and script extracts. Shortly after the series concluded, Granada Media published ''The Complete Cold Feet Companion'' (ISBN 023300999X) in hardback, written by Rupert Smith and billed as "Everything you ever wanted to know about Cold Feet!" The book sold 961 copies in the first week of publication, making tenth position on the hardback non-fiction chart.<ref>{{cite news|title= This week's bestsellers|url= http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/article1125955.ece|work= [[The Sunday Times (UK)|The Sunday Times]]|date= [[2003-04-06]]|accessdate= 2007-12-02}}</ref> Four soundtracks have been released, featuring music from and "inspired by" the series; Global TV released ''Cold Feet: The Official Soundtrack'' and ''More Cold Feet'' in 1999 and 2002 respectively, UMTV released ''The Very Best of Cold Feet'' in 2003 and EMI Gold released ''Cold Feet'' in 2006. Cheatwell Games issued a licensed board game in 2001, which is no longer produced.<ref>{{cite web|first= Paul|last= Evans|title= London Toy Fair 2001|url= http://www.pevans.co.uk/Reviews/ToyFair2001Report.html#Cheatwell|work= Pevans|date= [[2001-10-12]]|accessdate= 2007-03-02}}</ref> ===VHS and DVD releases=== Video Collection International (VCI) released all five series on video and DVD in the UK between 1999 and 2003. A complete series box set was released in two versions in November 2003; one collects the individual DVD releases in a cardboard case and the other is an 11-disc set that was sold exclusively by [[Play.com]].<ref name="Bonus DVD"/> The bonus disc contains the retrospective documentary ''Cold Feet: The Final Call'' as well as new interviews with John Thomson, Andy Harries and Spencer Campbell. A short documentary presented by Thomson provides an overview of the locations used in the series. The 11-disc set was repackaged and put on general release in 2006, published by Granada Ventures Ltd.<ref name="rerelease"/> The first three series were released in North America by Acorn Media and all series have been released in Australia by Universal. {| class="wikitable" width="75%" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 90%;" |- ! colspan="2" rowspan="2"|Release name !! rowspan="2"|Episodes !! rowspan="2"|VHS release date !! colspan="4" width="550px" |DVD release date |- !width="15%"|Region 2 !! width="15%"|Region 1 !! width="15%"|Region 4 |- |bgcolor="#AC82A8" height="10px"| |align="left"| The Pilot and Complete 1st Series |align="center"| 7 |align="center"| [[15 November]] [[1999]] |align="center"| [[25 September]] [[2000]]<ref name="R2 Series 1 DVD">{{cite web |first= Robert John|last= Shepherd|title= Region 2 Out This Week|url=http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/news/news.asp?Index=2678&Section=3|work= DVD Reviewer|date= [[2000-09-19]]|accessdate= 2007-08-24 }}</ref> |align="center"| [[25 January]] [[2005]]<ref name="R1 Series 1 DVD">{{cite web|first=David|last=Lambert|title= Cold Feet - UK show starring Helen Baxendale (Friends' 'Emily') now on DVD|url= http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Cold-Feet/3048| work= [[TV Shows on DVD.com]]|date=[[2005-03-05]]|accessdate= 2007-08-24}}</ref> |align="center"| [[4 February]] [[2002]]<ref name="R4 Series 1 DVD">{{cite web|first=Pete|last=Mellor|title= Cold Feet-Series 1 (Universal) (1998) |url= http://michaeldvd.com/Reviews/Reviews.asp?ID=1019|work=Michael DVD|date=[[2006-12-28]] |accessdate=2007-08-24}}</ref> |- |bgcolor="#4498D4" height="10px"| |align="left"| The Complete 2nd Series |align="center"| 6 |align="center"| [[10 April]] [[2000]] |align="center"| [[16 October]] [[2000]]<ref>{{cite web |first= Robert John|last= Shepherd|title= Region 2 Out This Week|url=http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/news/news.asp?Index=2848&Section=308|work= DVD Reviewer|date= [[2000-10-16]]|accessdate= 2007-08-24 }}</ref> |align="center"| [[26 April]] [[2005]]<ref name="R1 Series 1 DVD"/> |align="center"| [[5 December]] [[2006]]<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Bruce|title= Cold Feet-Complete 2nd Series (1999) |url= http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/Reviews.asp?ID=7436 |work=Michael DVD|date= [[2007-01-02]]|accessdate=2007-08-24}}</ref> |- |bgcolor="#CE4648" height="10px"| |align="left"| The Complete 3rd Series |align="center"| 8 |align="center"| [[5 November]] [[2001]] |align="center"| [[5 November]] [[2001]]<ref>{{cite web |first= Robert John|last= Shepherd|title= Region 2 Out This Week|url=http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/news/news.asp?Index=4901&Section=3|work= DVD Reviewer|date= [[2001-10-25]]|accessdate= 2007-08-24 }}</ref> |align="center"| [[26 July]] [[2005]]<ref>{{cite web|title= Cold Feet - Season 3|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/releases/Cold-Feet-Season-3/4822|work=[[TV Shows on DVD.com]]|date= undated|accessdate=2007-08-24}}</ref> |align="center"| [[2 February]] [[2007]]<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Bruce|title= Cold Feet-Complete 3rd Series (2000) |url= http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/Reviews.asp?ID=7510|work=Michael DVD|date= [[2007-02-05]]|accessdate=2007-08-24}}</ref> |- |bgcolor="#673A8F" height="10px"| |align="left"| The Complete 4th Series |align="center"| 8 |align="center"| [[25 November]] [[2002]] |align="center"| [[25 November]] [[2002]]<ref>{{cite web |first= Robert John|last= Shepherd|title= Region 2 Out This Week|url=http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/news/news.asp?Index=6802&Section=308|work= DVD Reviewer|date= [[2002-11-25]]|accessdate= 2007-08-24 }}</ref> |align="center"| — |align="center"| [[3 April]] [[2007]]<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Bruce|title= Cold Feet-Complete 4th Series (2001)|url= http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/Reviews.asp?ID=7690|work=Michael DVD|date= [[2007-05-09]] |accessdate=2007-08-24}}</ref> |- |bgcolor="#CE0067" height="10px"| |align="left"| The Complete 5th Series |align="center"| 4 |align="center"| [[24 March]] [[2003]] |align="center"| [[24 March]] [[2003]]<ref>{{cite web |first= Robert John|last= Shepherd|title= Region 2 Out This Week|url=http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/news/news.asp?Index=7314&Section=308|work= DVD Reviewer|date= [[2003-03-24]]|accessdate= 2007-08-24 }}</ref> |align="center"| — |align="center"| [[1 June]] [[2007]]<ref>{{cite web|first=Daniel|last=Bruce|title= Cold Feet-Complete 5th Series (2002)|url= http://www.michaeldvd.com.au/Reviews/Reviews.asp?ID=7710|work=Michael DVD|date= [[2007-05-16]]|accessdate=2007-08-24}}</ref> |- |bgcolor="#CE0067" height="10px"| |align="left"| The Complete Story (10-disc) |rowspan="3" align="center"| 33 |align="center"| — |rowspan="2" align="center"| [[10 November]] [[2003]]<ref name="Bonus DVD">{{cite web |first= Robert John|last= Shepherd|title= Region 2 Out This Week|url=http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/news/news.asp?Index=8244&Section=3|work= DVD Reviewer|date= [[2003-10-23]]|accessdate= 2007-08-26 }}</ref> |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |- |bgcolor="#FFB6C1" height="10px"| |align="left"| The Complete Story (11-disc) |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |- |bgcolor="#FFFFFF" height="10px"| |align="left"| The Complete Collection |align="center"| — |align="center"| [[26 March]] [[2006]]<ref name="rerelease">{{cite web|first= Robert John|last= Shepherd|title= Region 2 Out This Week|url=http://www.dvd.reviewer.co.uk/news/news.asp?Index=10984&Section=308|work= DVD Reviewer|date= [[2006-03-20]]|accessdate= 2007-07-30 }}</ref> |align="center"| — |align="center"| — |- |} ==References== {{refbegin}} *{{cite book |last= Smith|first= Rupert|title= Cold Feet: The Complete Companion|year= 2003|publisher= Granada Media|location= London|isbn= 023300999X }} *{{cite book |last= Tibballs|first= Geoff|title= Cold Feet: The Best Bits...|year= 2000|publisher= André Deutsch Publishing Ltd.|location= London|isbn= 0233999248 }} {{refend}} {{reflist|2}} <!-- All links checked and active on 13 December 2007 --> ==External links== *[http://www.itv.com/BestofITV/comedy/ColdFeet/default.html ''Cold Feet''] at [[itv.com]] *[http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/29347 ''Cold Feet''] at the [[British Film Institute]] *{{imdb title|id=0168596|title=Cold Feet}} {{start box}} {{succession box | | before = ''[[Clocking Off]]'' | after = ''[[Spooks]]'' | title = [[British Academy Television Awards]]<br>Best Drama Series | years = 2002|}} {{end box}} {{Cold Feet}} {{featured article}} [[Category:1990s British television series]] [[Category:1998 television series debuts]] [[Category:2000s British television series]] [[Category:2003 television series endings]] [[Category:BAFTA winners (television series)]] [[Category:Comedy-drama television series]] [[Category:ITV television programmes]] [[Category:Television shows set in Manchester]] [[nl:Cold Feet]] [[no:Kalde føtter]] [[fi:Rimakauhua ja rakkautta]] [[sv:Kalla fötter]]