The long-running TV show, which has spawned two movies to date, regularly included sex scenes and saw the main characters talking candidly about their love lives.

And, after a recent meeting with a grateful father in a supermarket, Cattrall believes the franchise has given mums and dads a way to broach the difficult subject of sex in a discussion with their kids.

She says, "He said, 'You know, you really made it possible for me to talk to my 18-year-old daughter about sex.' That was lovely to hear, because it's a big step for a young girl's dad to be able to say to her, 'You know that episode of Sex and The City... that could happen to you, you know.' We had this nice talk but all the while I was thinking, 'Why do we have to be having this talk at the fish counter?'"