Yes yes, calm down dears Birds Of A Feather is returning to our screens and for those of you who grew up on just 4 channels of TV and where Sunday night viewing was golden, Birds Of A Feather marks a treasured moment in our hearts.

18th December 2013

Birds Of A Feather returns for another season, so we got close and personal with the actress who has been there and done that...

Sharon Theodopolopodous played by Pauline Quirke

Sharon always says and does exactly what she’s thinking – even when she shouldn’t. She’s envious of Tracey’s comfortable life, always feeling like the inferior sister – but it’s given her the chip on her shoulder that she wears like a badge of honour.

Stepping back into Sharon’s shoes after a 15-year break was a wonderful moment for Pauline Quirke, who readily admits her screen character is her ‘alter ego’.

Smiling, the 54-year-old actress says it feels like the most natural thing in the world to be back in Birds of a Feather because she loves it so much.

“Our characters are our alter egos,” explains Pauline. “Coming back to make Birds of a Feather is not like starting a new show where you have to invent the character from scratch. The girls were there waiting for us to play them again.

“And I have loved it. When we started rehearsing again, it really did feel like stepping back in time – but in a nice way.

“Yes we are older but what’s so lovely is that we are still referred to as ‘the girls’! We were always referred to as the girls before and we still are!“

As Pauline readily explains, Sharon has an even bigger chip on her shoulder when the series returns. She is back living in her council flat and earning enough to get by in a Pound shop. She’s envious of Tracey’s comfortable life and the only thing she takes great pride in is she is a victim of the system.

“Sharon is a bit more angry now,” says Pauline. “The world has changed a lot but her life has not changed a lot. She always did have a chip on her shoulder and she always felt hard done by. Now she is a 54-year-old, she feels even harder done by! But she still adores her sister and the relationship the girls have.”

The first time Pauline walked into the studio on her return was a defining moment for the actress. “My best moment was when I walked in and there were cameramen there who we had worked with on the original series,” she says, beaming as she does. “It was weird but also really lovely. We have such a good time with each other and we have always said we wanted to give it another go. Now we are, we are having the best time ever.

“We all love each other so much and we are there for each other,” she confides. “We have a ball together and ever since we first met, we have always been so supportive of each other.

“What I think is fantastic is the return of this show does have all the original actresses in it again. It works on so many levels because there is enough for younger people to watch too. I love telly and there is not much out there for my generation.

“I really do believe that the people who loved Birds of a Feather the first time around will not be let down.”

Aside from working with her close friends, Pauline has also loved sharing a studio with her youngest child, Charlie. He plays Tracey’s son, Travis, in the new series. Eyes welling up as she talks about how proud she feels that he is following in her footsteps, she admits: “He came away with us on tour and I was really nervous the first time he went out on the stage.

“Obviously I am his mum and I am very biased but I do think he is really good. And what means so much to me is when the girls say things like ‘OMG he was so fabulous. I loved him in that scene.”

Given the actresses are so close, it’s not surprising to learn they are already planning a big party together to mark the transmission of the first episode.

“We are always going to each other’s places,” explains Pauline. “Even when we were on tour, we would always go back to one of our flats. We will definitely watch the first episode together. Linda and Lesley are very much part of my life and I always find it very insulting when I am asked if there is any competitiveness between the three of us because we are all actresses.”

She doesn’t want to tempt fate too much in predicting whether there will be another series or not, but Pauline reveals she is very proud that the show does touch on important subjects. “We have a laugh but we surprise people,” she explains. “We are not comediennes, we are actresses. And what is so lovely to see is women liking women’s company.”

One of the nation’s most popular actresses, Pauline’s career continues to go from strength to strength. As well as opening up her own Academy of Performing Arts across Britain, she has starred in several big shows since Birds of a Feather was last aired, including Emmerdale and the hugely popular, Broadchurch – a series she plans to work on next once Birds of a Feather goes out.

“It is exciting times,” she says. “We are nervous but the tour proved we did hold our own. I want to enjoy everything...”

Linda Robson, Pauline Quirke and Lesley Joseph star in the upcoming TV return of comedy classic Birds of a Feather.

All three original actresses will be reprising their roles as the original Essex girls as ITV viewers will get the chance to find out what Sharon, Tracey and Dorian are now up to.

Original writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran with Gary Lawson and John Phelps have penned the new series.

Birds Of A Feather Returns to ITV1 on the 2nd January 2014