Birds Of A Feather stars to reunite for new show after sitcom was rocked by feud rumours
BIRDS Of A Feather’s stars are set to reunite for a new show after the sitcom was rocked by feud rumours.
Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, who played Tracey Stubbs and Sharon Theodopolopodous in the hit programme, have been friends for more than 50 years and starred together in 12 series.
But when Pauline was absent from the 2020 Birds of a Feather special, rumours of a fallout were sparked.
Linda has long maintained that they never locked horns, however it doesn’t look like she’ll be involved in the new project.
Instead, Lesley Joseph, who took on the role of Dorien Green, might be teaming up with Linda to form a double act.
The Loose Women panellist told Woman magazine, “I’m hoping to do a series with Lesley, it is sort of in the pipeline now.
“We did Race Across Yorkshire together and the BBC were very pleased with how we interacted, so they’re trying to get something together for us, which would be really nice.”
When pressed on what the pair might be getting up to, she replied, “A reality series doing a bucket list, or things to do before we die.”
The Sun previously revealed Linda and Pauline suffered several backstage barneys before the Hackney-native was “snubbed” from the reunion.
A source close to Linda said the atmosphere on set between Pauline and the cast became more hostile.
The insider said: “The nadir came during one astonishing row at Teddington Studios, culminating in Pauline and Lesley squaring off.
“They were basically pulled apart by stunned crew members. Things went rapidly downhill from there.”
Linda explained that she and Lesley weren’t ready to stop filming despite Pauline’s being missing from the show.
Speaking out about her relationship with Pauline previously, Linda shrugged off suggestions they’d stopped speaking.
Instead she insisted Pauline was busy focusing on her work with The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, which she set up while Birds of a Feather was off-air.
Linda said “People say Pauline and I have fallen out. Obviously I couldn’t see her during lockdown but I’ve seen her since.
“She just doesn’t want to act anymore. She’s had enough – it’s long hours.”