THEY'RE back - midlife crises and all.

It was a joy to be reunited with the cast of an old favourite, Cold Feet, this week. Apart from the unfortunate Helen Baxendale of course. The new Mum came to a sticky end in the penultimate episode of the beloved drama, back in 2003, but Rachel has of course already made a ghostly appearance as an apparition on an airport escalator in the new show.

I watched every episode of the five previous series in readiness for Monday night's relaunch and it seemed like time well spent as there were plenty of nods to bygone days.

Within minutes, it felt like the old gang had never been away.

Adam (James Nesbitt) is getting married again to a high-flier 18 years his junior her met while working in Singapore, his son Matthew (Cel Spellman) packed off to boarding school in rural Cheshire.

Pete (John Thomson) is struggling to make ends meet after losing his job. But at least his re-marriage to Jenny (Fay Ripley) seems to be a success.

Karen (Hermione Norris) has given up on love, but remains on the wagon, while ex-husband David (Robert Bathurst) is very unhappily married to his former divorce lawyer Robyn. They're even embroiled in a Chris Huhne style please take my speeding points style story.

I didn't even miss the glorious 90s and early 00s soundtrack, headed by Space's Female of The Species as the theme tune. The Rover Returns, from the pen of Elbow frontman Guy Garvey and Peter Jobson from I Am Kloot, brought the music bang up to date.

I hae to say the cast were looking better than ever. Some of them had a touch more hair than last time they were on screen 13 years ago if I'm not mistaken. 50 is the new 30 and all that.

Brilliant writer Mike Bullen has the the whole minefield of middle age and the trials of teenagers to explore in this wonderful reunion.

I shall stay in touch.

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