BIRDS OF A FEATHER TO RETURN FOR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Birds Of A Feather is to return to ITV this Christmas for a festive special - the first since 2017.

However, Pauline Quirke will not reprise her role as Sharon Theodopolopodous, as she focuses on her Pauline Quirke Academy national network of performing arts schools.

ITV tease: "It's been three years since we last saw the Birds, after Tracey reluctantly sold the house they all shared to Dorien. At the end of a 2020 no-one could have predicted, we catch up with the inhabitants of our favourite Essex address... and find big changes in all their lives. Tracey and Dorien have been getting right on each others' thruppennies, while Sharon has escaped to the other side of the world and is stuck on a Covid-cruise... Who can fill the Sharon-shaped hole in their lives this Christmas?"

Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph will star in the special, with guest star Les Dennis as Graeme, a cameo from Curtis Walker, and Ami Metcalf as Jordan.

Lesley Joseph says: "I'm so excited to be putting Dorien's high heels back on for a Christmas special of Birds. It's been 3 years since viewers last saw us and Dorien's only gone and got herself a new man! We all need a laugh right now and I promise this special will deliver the festive goods!"

Linda Robson adds: "I'm so happy we have a new Birds adventure. Trace and Dor have been at loggerheads with each other for months, will it be a peaceful Christmas in Essex?! The script for this special is brilliant, I promise we'll have lots of laughs for fans of the show."