John Thomson

There are larks aplenty down in the Valco aisles as Sky's passable ensemble comedy opens its store for Christmas Eve. John Thomson slips straight into the role of star employee Tim, as store manager Gavin (Jason Watkins at his busybody best) is hoping to break the record for the shop's highest takings. What could possibly go wrong? Cue robbers holding the staff hostage, with their fate in the hand of have-a-go hero Gavin. Knockabout fun.

Last week's closing revelation saw the carousel of bittersweet middle-age inconveniences stop at teen pregnancy. The gathering of the kids too young to have a child, and the parents who aren't ready to be grandparents, prompts the predictable shouting, speeches, learning and staring into space backed by piano ballads, but it's compassionately handled. Meanwhile, there's a fresh burden for the perpetually overwhelmed Pete and Jenny (John Thomson and Fay Ripley).

Cold Feet, series 7, ITV review: more comedy than drama

After last year's comeback, it's a fresh start for Mike Bullen's friends.

Cold Feet cast talk about Manchester bombing

The Cold Feet cast reveal Manchester bombing led to sombre return to filming.

Cold Feet, series 2 episode 1, review

It's always incredibly risky to revive a much-loved show. Few manage to recreate the magic, let alone match the success. Porridge, Red Dwarf and Still Open All Hours have all been dusted off and brought back to our screens, and are still chugging away, but with a fraction of the viewers and former acclaim. Cold Feet (ITV) is the exception.

Why did you come back, Cold Feet?

Returning for a seventh series, the show has sacrificed nuance and realism in favour of caricature and soap-opera silliness.

John Thomson reveals he was saved from suicide

The 48-year-old actor said he had also kept going for the sake of his two daughters.

What's going to happen in the next series of Cold Feet?

Adam, Pete, Jenny, David and Karen are back on screens this autumn.

Interview: rarely asked questions - John Thomson

John Thomson is best known for his performances onscreen. He has shown his comic chops in The Fast Show and in his work with Steve Coogan and in much more and he has also shown his acting chops in Cold Feet. He is currently filming a new series of Cold Feet to go out later this year. Now Thomson has stepped behind the cameras to executive produce Dying Laughing, a fascinating documentary about the art of comedy. The format is fiendishly simple - a succession comedians talk about their craft, how they go about it and what it means to them. And boy what a cast.