Hermione Norris has revealed she survived a cancer scare before her 'Cold Feet' character went through the same experience.

Hermione Norris

Hermione Norris

The 51-year-old actress - whose alter-ego Karen Marsden will battle the disease in the upcoming eighth series of the ITV drama -has opened up about the moment she feared she could have the same diagnosis in real life.

As reported by the Daily Star newspaper, she said: "I had a cancer scare myself. I found a lump and my main thought when I got the all-clear was 'Thank God it's not me.'

"I know women who are going through it now, with children it's terrifying."

Hermione has two children - 14-year-old son Wilf and 11-year-old daughter Hero - with husband Simon Wheeler.

The report that her character Karen will be faced with a health battle comes after co-star John Thomson teased two major storylines for the upcoming run of episodes.

The 49-year-old star - who plays Pete Gifford in the comedy drama - is optimistic about the eighth series of the show, which will be the third season since it returned to the small screen in 2016.

He recently said: "Series six was fantastic. Seven was a bit like 'that difficult second album', a bit of a slow-burn.

"But this one is fantastic, very strong. I can't say much, but two really major things happen."

The new episodes were originally meant to air before the end of 2018, but James Nesbitt - who will be back with John, Hermione and their co-stars Robert Bathurst and Fay Ripley - previously confirmed it will be back on ITV next month.

He said: "We've just finished series 8, very excited, and that will be coming along next year."