Final series for ITV's Cold Feet

In the UK, ITV's head of drama Nick Elliott has ordered a fifth and final series of the network's hit comedy Cold Feet, one of several shows seen by many as the UK's answer to Friends.

The company behind the Bafta and Montreux-winning series, Granada Productions, has confirmed that the new series will be the last.

Filming begins in Manchester in July, with five of the original cast – Helen Baxendale, James Nesbitt, John Thomson, Robert Bathurst and Hermione Norris – so far signed up to return. Fay Ripley, who's been in all four previous series, isn't yet on the cast list, and a deal with her hasn't yet been signed.

The new 4×90' series follows the fourth series' tear-jerking climax in Australia. Six months later Adam and Rachel are learning what parenthood really means; Pete and Jo are living with the mother-in-law back in the UK; and David and Karen are discovering the joys of divorce.

Like all the preceding series, the new season has been written by the show's creator Mike Bullen, and exec produced by Granada's controller of drama and comedy Andy Harries, with a UK tx date pencilled in for early 2003 on ITV1.

The new episodes will bring the total number to 25, with Harries promising that the new material will see the series {go out with a bang. Mike has come up with some fantastic storylines.{

The show has proved to be something of a smash for both ITV and Granada, despite the fact that the network didn't get behind the show's pilot until it won the Montreux Golden Rose back in 1997. Since then the show has drawn solid ratings for ITV and performed well for Granada International, selling into some 33 territories.

Cold Feet was also reversioned for US network NBC. However, the US version, set in Seattle, was axed in October 99 after just four episodes. Despite the UK hit drawing ratings of ten million, NBC's version pulled the network's lowest-ever rating for an original programme in its Friday night 20:00 slot.