Cold Feet’s creator confirms drama will take a break after season 9 so characters ‘have time to move on’
COLD Feet's creator has confirmed the show will take a break after the current series amid a row over the stars' pay.
The ITV comedy drama stars Fay Ripley, James Nesbitt, Hermione Norris, John Thomson and Robert Bathurst and the final episode of the ninth series is tonight.
Cold Feet originally aired from 1998 until 2003 before returning to our screens in September 2016.
While the revived series has been well received by viewers, creator Mike Bullen has revealed he plans to put it on a mini hiatus after the current season finishes.
He said in a statement: "We feel we've explored to our satisfaction the issues confronting the characters at this stage of their lives and we want to give them all a little time to move on, to put clear water between the stories we've told thus far and the issues they'll be exploring when they are empty nesters staring down the barrel of grandparenthood.
"We're looking forward to returning at a later date to document the agony and the ecstasy of the third age…"
The cast members added in a statement: "The Cold Feet team have proved that life never stops being funny, challenging and bitter sweet.
"So, although the show will take a well earned break, we all look forward, when the time is right, to returning to warm the nation's hearts once again."
Mike had previously said of his plans to rest the show: "I want to take a break. We are going to rest the series.
"We’re not doing one next year. We need to give the characters some space to move on to new stages so that we’ve got stuff to write about.
“We’re talking about doing a one-off special to tide us over.”
The decision comes amid a row over the varying salaries among the cast.
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Fay, 53, who plays Jenny Gifford recently said: "It’s a really tricky one because it’s not like other jobs.
“Pay is measured on very odd things that are to do with ‘bankability’.
"It’s not a case of the boys being paid more than the girls, as a whole unit, but we are not all paid the same.”
Last month, Robert, 62, admitted fears the current season would be the show's last.
The actor, who plays David Marsden, said: "If we are pulled, which I think we might well be, I always said we’d either do one series and it’d be a failure or we do four in the reboot. That was my instinct.
“It’s not my decision, but if we are finishing I hope we’ve given ITV a very difficult decision to make.
"It could well be the end, but you don’t know."
Cold Feet series nine finishes tonight at 9pm on ITV.