I am part of a generation that became addicted to Cold Feet the first time round – and am now rejoicing at its return.
Alongside the characters, we have gone from juggling work, relationships and small children to juggling work, relationships and bigger children – all with the ultimate aim of having a small window every week in which to sit in front of a telly with a large glass of merlot.
Back when it was last on, 13 years ago, that hour a week seemed an impossible dream and I seem to remember much recording of programmes.
But the thing was, even though Cold Feet was pretty much a soap opera, it didn’t feel like it, so you didn’t feel guilty watching.
It felt like watching your own friends’ lives on telly, albeit with better hair and Mancunian accents.
Although I’m writing this after only the first episode of the new series, I think that recognition factor is still very much there.
We’ve all been there when a friend introduces their considerably younger new partner and tried to choke back the impulse to say: “Are you joking? It’ll never last.” Jenny doesn’t even bother trying to choke back the impulse and we love her for it.
Thankfully, there is plenty of general middle-aged disappointment to match any potential smugness. No one wants to watch their contemporaries having considerably better lives than they have.
Let’s face it, much of the joy of Cold Feet first time round was that we were not so much interested in the relationship storylines as what kind of kitchen appliances or fire surround the characters had.
Or was that just me?
This time, we can enjoy marvelling at the fact that Adam has more hair than he had last time and can have a good gawp at the decor in the loft-style flat he’s renting from the Helen Baxendale looky-likey landlady and potential love interest.
And thanks goodness the actor declined to bring her annoyingly smug character, Rachel, back from the dead.
I think many of us original fans were a bit worried about the wisdom of bringing it back but we needn’t have worried – it’s like a reunion with an old friend.