The long-running show has attracted a huge fanbase over the years
Birds of a Feather cast (Image: BBC)
For more than a decade, Birds of a Feather brought viewers the chaotic lives of two sisters whose family circumstances were turned upside down after their husbands were sent to prison. What started in 1989 as a sitcom about two women forced to rely on each other quickly became a television favourite, helped by the brilliant partnership between Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson.
Lesley Joseph also became synonymous with the series through her role as their flamboyant neighbour Dorien Green.
The show’s central characters were Tracey and Sharon, sisters who came from very different backgrounds. Tracey enjoyed a lavish lifestyle at her Chigwell home, Dalentrace, with her son Garth, while Sharon lived in a rundown Edmonton flat and had a strained relationship with her husband Chris.
Everything changed when both women’s husbands were jailed for armed robbery. With their partners behind bars, Sharon moved in with Tracey, bringing the sisters together under one roof and creating the unlikely situation that became the heart of the sitcom.
The original series continued until Christmas Eve 1998, when it came to an end after nine years. But the story did not stay finished for long. Birds of a Feather returned to television in 2014, attracting almost eight million viewers for its first episode and demonstrating that there was still a huge appetite for the characters.
The sitcom later returned for a Christmas special in 2020. Despite the years that have passed since the original episodes aired, the cast remain instantly recognisable to many fans. Some have continued to enjoy successful careers in television and entertainment, while others have deliberately chosen to live much quieter lives away from the spotlight.
So, what happened to the stars of Birds of a Feather? We take a look at some of the show’s most frequently appearing cast members and where they are now.
Pauline Quirke
Pauline Quirke(Image: Getty Images)
Pauline Quirke became a household name playing Sharon Theodopolopodous in Birds of a Feather, the younger sister of Tracey Stubbs and wife of Chris Theodopolopodous.
In January 2025, it was announced that Pauline had retired from acting after being diagnosed with dementia in 2021. Her husband, Steve Sheen, said she had stepped back from all professional and commercial duties, while praising her work in television, film and charity and the legacy of the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts.
Pauline played Sharon throughout the original run of Birds of a Feather and won a British Comedy Award in 1990 for her performance in the sitcom. Away from the comedy, she earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress for her role as convicted murderer Olive Martin in the BBC drama The Sculptress.
Her other television credits include the BBC detective series Maisie Raine, ITV drama Broadchurch and Emmerdale, where she played Hazel Rhodes between 2010 and 2012. In 2022, Pauline was made an MBE for services to entertainment, young people and charity.
Linda Robson
Linda Robson (Image: 2025 Jo Hale/Getty Images)
Linda Robson played Tracey Stubbs’ sister Sharon in Birds of a Feather — a role that made her one of the most recognisable faces on British television.
Following the sitcom’s original run, Linda continued to build a successful television career and became a regular panellist on ITV’s Loose Women. She has also appeared on programmes including Celebrity MasterChef, Casualty and I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
In 2022, Linda reunited with Lesley Joseph for Celebrity Coach Trip, with the pair going on to win the series. She has remained a familiar face on television, although she has taken periods away from Loose Women over the years.
Linda has also spoken publicly about Pauline Quirke’s dementia diagnosis. In January 2025, she said it “breaks my heart” to see her close friend living with the illness, adding that she would not discuss the matter further out of respect for Pauline.
Lesley Joseph
Lesley Joseph attends the “Fiddler On The Roof” Opening Gala at the Barbican Theatre on June 03, 2025 (Image: 2025 Getty Images)
Lesley Joseph is best known to Birds of a Feather fans as Dorien Green, the glamorous and outspoken neighbour who became one of the sitcom’s most memorable characters.
She played Dorien during the original run from 1989 to 1998 and returned for the show’s revival from 2014 until 2020. Her performance helped make Dorien one of the most enduring characters from the series.
Away from television, Lesley has enjoyed a long career on stage, appearing in productions including Thoroughly Modern Millie, Calendar Girls and Annie. She was also nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for the original West End production of Young Frankenstein.
Lesley has continued working in theatre and entertainment into her 80s. In 2026, she is appearing as Grandma in The Addams Family musical at Brixton House alongside Alexandra Burke, who plays Morticia Addams.
Alun Lewis
Birds of a Feather cast (Image: BBC)
Alun Lewis played Darryl Stubbs, Tracey’s husband, during the early years of Birds of a Feather. He appeared in the sitcom from 1989 to 1994 before the character was subsequently played by Douglas McFerran.
Lewis is also well known for his role as Vic Windsor in Emmerdale, appearing in the ITV soap from 1993 until 1998. Vic was married to Viv Windsor and was the father of Kelly and Donna Windsor.
Away from acting, Lewis became involved with Emmerdale band The Woolpackers, who scored a major chart success with Hillbilly Rock Hillbilly Roll in 1996.
Lewis is the father of composer Amelia Warner, who has worked extensively in film and television and is married to actor Jamie Dornan. Following his high-profile roles in Birds of a Feather and Emmerdale, Lewis largely stepped away from the public eye.
Peter Polycarpou
Birds of a Feather star Peter Polycarpou(Image: BBC)
Peter Polycarpou played Chris Theodopolopodous, Sharon’s husband, in Birds of a Feather. He appeared in the sitcom during the early 1990s, although the character was also played by David Cardy.
Polycarpou has enjoyed an extensive career across television, film and theatre. His television credits include The Bill, Holby City, Casualty, Waking the Dead, EastEnders and The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies.
In EastEnders, he played Yanis Pappas, the father of Carly Wicks, in 2006. He has also taken on numerous stage roles, including Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha for the English National Opera at the London Coliseum in 2019, opposite Kelsey Grammer.
Polycarpou has continued to work across the entertainment industry, with theatre remaining an important part of his career. He has previously spoken about the importance of experience in helping actors build their careers and attracting the attention of casting directors.
Matthew Savage
Matthew Savage as Garth Stubbs(Image: BBC)
Matthew Savage played Garth Stubbs, Tracey’s son, for much of the original run of Birds of a Feather. He was the actor who appeared most frequently in the role, although Garth was also played by Simon Nash and other actors during the series.
Rather than continuing with an acting career, Savage went on to establish himself in the music industry. He joined folk-rock band Levellers as their keyboard player in 2003 and has remained part of the group.
Savage has also provided backing vocals for the band during his time with them. His career therefore took a very different direction from many of his former Birds of a Feather co-stars, moving from child acting into a long-running career in music.