Helen Baxendale was asked to return to 'Cold Feet'.
Helen Baxendale
The 46-year-old actress' alter ego Rachel Bradley was tragically killed off in the last series of the show in 2003 and, although writer Mike Bullen was going to weave her back into the script for the next installment, she turned him down.
Mike explained: "I'm quite sentimental. I wanted to find a way of doing 'Cold Feet' with the original six ... I sent that script to Helen to say, 'Do you want to do it?' She was very sweet about the script but she said, no, it wasn't for her."
And, although he was initially devastated about Helen's refusal, the 56-year-old writer believes, on reflection, it worked out for the best for the script and the show.
He explained: "I'm pleased she did because it was the right decision both for her and the show. I was clinging to something that we needed to let go of. But Rachel was such a key part of the show and to all those characters."
And Mike wasn't the only one hoping Helen would return for the forthcoming series as James Nesbitt - who played her on-screen husband Adam Williams - has admitted it's weird not having her around on set anymore.
Speaking to Digital Spy, he said: "I think that was the right decision for Helen to make. I've missed her terribly. She was such an important part of 'Cold Feet' and my professional life. I loved my time working with her. But it would have been stretching it a bit too far to bring her back. Adam talks about Rachel a lot in this series and there's a little tribute to her as well. So her presence is felt throughout."
'Cold Feet', which hasn't been on screens for 13 years ago, is set to hit the small box on September 5 on ITV at 9pm.
Tagged in James Nesbitt Helen Baxendale