Birds of a Feather

Birds of a Feather
Opening credits (1990–98)
Format	Sitcom
Created by	Laurence Marks Maurice Gran
Developed by	Alomo Productions
Starring	Pauline Quirke Linda Robson Lesley Joseph
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	9
No. of episodes	102 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time	95x30 minutes 1x40 minutes 4x50 minutes 1x60 minutes 1x75 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC One
Original run	16 October 1989 – 24 December 1998

Birds of a Feather is a British sitcom that aired on BBC One from 1989 to 1998. Starring Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph, it was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who also wrote some of the episodes along with many other writers.

The first episode sees sisters Tracey Stubbs (Robson) and Sharon Theodopolopodos (Quirke) brought together when their husbands are sent to prison for armed robbery. Sharon, who lived in an Edmonton council flat, moves into Tracey's expensive house in Chigwell, Essex. Their next-door neighbour, and later friend, Dorien Green (Joseph) is a middle-aged married woman who is constantly having affairs with younger men. In the later series' the location is changed to High Ongar

Cast

• Pauline Quirke – Sharon Theodopolopodos
• Linda Robson – Tracey Stubbs
• Lesley Joseph – Dorien Green
• David Cardy – Chris Theodopolopodos (series 1; series 7 and 8)
• Peter Polycarpou – Chris Theodopolopodos (series 2 to 1994 Special)
• Alun Lewis – Darryl Stubbs (series 1 to 1994 Special)
• Doug McFerran – Darryl Stubbs (series 7)
• Simon Nash – Garth Stubbs (series 1)
• Matthew Savage – Garth Stubbs (from series 2)
• Stephen Greif – Marcus Green (1990 Christmas Special)
• Nickolas Grace – Marcus Green (series 1, 5 and 7)

Plot

For sisters Sharon Theodopolopodos and Tracy Stubbs, life is never the same again when their husbands are sent to prison after carrying out an armed robbery. Sharon, a common, large and loud-mouthed character from Edmonton, moves into her wealthy sister's luxury home in Chigwell, so the two can give each other support.

Sharon has always felt inadequate next to her prettier, elder sister Tracey and felt she had the tougher childhood. Her marriage to Chris, a Greek Cypriot waster, was childless, due to her "inability" to have children, according to Chris's family who condemn her. However, during series one, it becomes clear Chris is the one who's at fault. Sharon happily cheats on Chris and gives him grief when visiting.

Tracey however, loves her husband, Darryl, who also made money from a conservatory construction business (as well as bank robbery). He and Tracey have a son, Garth, who becomes a chef after going to boarding school.

The sisters’ neighbour, is the snobbish, man-eating Dorien Green (nee Friedman), who is also Jewish. Dorien is married to Marcus, but is always getting involved with other men. She is also a regular, if uninvited, guest at Tracey’s house, and mocks Sharon about her weight, whilst Sharon teases Dorien about her lifestyle and age. This mutual teasing is done in a friendly and playful way rather than a serious or hurtful one, and it is often shown Sharon and Tracy care for Dorien and vice versa. If any of them are in any kind of trouble or have any problems, the others are often the first ones to help even if it means putting themselves at a disadvantage or getting into trouble.

Sharon and Tracey's maternal aunt, "Auntie Sylvie" (Vivian Pickles), is frequently mentioned and appears twice. ^[1][2]

Episodes

Birds of a Feather aired for 102 episodes from 16 October 1989 to 24 December 1998. 95 episodes are thirty minutes in length, while one is forty minutes, four are 50 minutes, one is 60 minutes and one is 75 minutes. The theme tune is Irving Berlin's "What'll I Do", which from the third series onwards is sung by Quirke and Robson.

Most episodes were written by Laurence Marks (British writer) & Maurice Gran, Gary Lawson & John Phelps, Geoff Rowley, Sue Teddem, Peter Tilbury, Geoff Deane, Tony Millan & Mike Walling, Damon Rochefort and Sam Lawrence. Keith Lindsay & Martin Tomms, Steve Coombes & Dave Robinson, George Costigan & Julia North, John Ross, Frankie Bailey, Miles Tredinnick, Jenny Lecoat, Alun Lewis, Richard Preddy & Gary Howe and Ian Davidson & Peter Vincent & Tony Jordan all wrote one episode each.

A Return?

On 3 March 2009, The Mirror reported that the classic sitcom was set for a return reporting that Lesley Joseph, Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson have all been asked by the team behind the sitcom to make another series ^[3]. Quirke was reported as saying that they were up for the challenge if the writers came up with good ideas.

Other countries

Birds of a Feather was sold to over 30 countries worldwide, and the format was sold to countries including Australia (ABC TV), Spain and South Africa. The show is regularly re-run on Australian pay TV.

An American adaptation, called Stand by Your Man was made by Fox. Rosie O'Donnell played hard-up Lorraine Popowski, while Melissa Gilbert-Brinkman played her rich sister Rochelle Dunphy. Sam McMurray played Rochelle's husband Roger, and Rick Hall played Lorraine's husband Artie. The Dorien character was called Adrienne Stone played by Miriam Flynn. The series aired for only eight episodes from 5 April 1992 to 9 August 1992.

DVD releases

The first series of Birds of a Feather was released by Prism Leisure Corporation on 6 January 2003. Series One was released in Region 4 (Australia) in March 2007. Series One has been re-released with different packaging on June 1st 2009 although Fremantle Media have said that there are no plans at present to release the remaining series 2-9.

References

General

• Mark Lewisohn, "Radio Times Guide to TV Comedy", BBC Worldwide Ltd, 2003

Specific

External links

• Birds of a Feather at BBC Online
• Birds of a Feather at the Internet Movie Database
• Birds of a Feather at Phill.co.uk