Viewers left ‘uncomfortable’ by Andrew Lincoln’s dramatic transformation in ITV’s Coldwater

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ITV viewers have been left ‘uncomfortable’ and ‘confused’ by Andrew Lincoln’s transformation in his latest series Coldwater.

After spending more than a decade in America playing the role of Rick Grimes in AMC’s The Walking Dead, Andrew, 52, has finally made his return to UK television.

Speaking to Metro, the Love Actually star explained how he wanted to spend more time with his family following the conclusion of the flesh-eating zombie series.

As well as currently starring in a West End play alongside Alicia Vikander, Andrew’s newest role sees him play John, who has moved his family from London to the fictional town of Coldwater after he witnesses an attack.

Upon his arrival, John is quickly befriended by his charming next-door neighbour Tommy, played by Trainspotting star Ewen Bremner.

Over the course of six episodes, the thriller – written by David Ireland – sees John’s long-repressed rage come to a head.

The Walking Dead actor stars alongside Trainspotting’s Ewen Bremner (Picture: ITV) Andrew pictured as Rick Grimes in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live (Picture: 2024 AMC Film Holdings)

However, sharing their views on social media, many fans felt odd seeing the 52-year-old play such a vastly different character to The Walking Dead.

Writing on X, @iMargo_CEO said: ‘Think of the most emasculated, confused, and bad decision making adult family man….and you have John from Coldwater!

‘Subtle things hint to his emasculation like his wife takes his clothes off of him like he’s a woman he literally lifts up to get his boxers removed like panties.

‘So weird seeing AL [Andrew Lincoln] like this so diff from alpha male Rick Grimes lol. Coldwater is such a wild thriller and psychological and even funny but dark too.’

@spn678 added: ‘Watching Coldwater starring Andrew Lincoln and it’s such a weird show, not what I expected at all but such an uncomfortable and tense vibe. I can’t decide wherever I love or hate it.’

@AllanSmith80 also wrote: ‘I can’t disassociate Andrew Lincoln from Rick Grimes, I was waiting for him to tear the fella’s throat out in the shop #coldwater.’

Andrew Lincoln has made his long-awaited return to UK television with ITV’s Coldwater (Picture: ITV) The series sees John unleash his repressed rage throughout the later episodes (Picture: ITV)

Asked by Metro about the role of John, Andrew explained that he wanted to ‘make something different’.

‘[It was] almost the opposite of what I’ve been doing for 12 years in the US predominantly with Rick Grimes,’ he said.

‘I said to David at the beginning, are we making a middle-aged fight club? And he went, no, we’re not doing that. 

‘But there is a certain sense that…there’s this coercive, interesting, project, like a Frankenstein project for [Ewen Bremner] turning me from this cuck into something else. 

‘I’m immensely proud of [what we’ve made] because the actors and the people involved really cared about it and wanted to make something that had dignity and beauty and hope.’

Coldwater is available to watch on ITVX.

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