Birds Of A Feather was one of the most successful shows of the 90s and was on air for three decades – with the show’s cast experiencing success and tragedy

Birds of a Feather, a TV staple for more than 30 years, with one of the most memorable theme tunes, first graced our screens on the BBC in 1989. The show starred Loose Women’s Linda Robson as Tracey Stubbs and TV icon Pauline Quirke as Sharon Theodopolopodous, two neighbours whose lives intertwine when their husbands were sent to jail.

Viewers fell in love with the Cockney pair, who were joined by the flirtatious neighbour Dorien Green, played by Lesley Joseph. Other notable appearances came from Alun Lewis, who played the role of Tracey’s husband, Darryl, and Peter Polycarpou, who starred as Pauline’s husband, Chris, for five series. Busted star Matt Willis also joined the cast as Tracey’s son, Gareth Stubbs, during the show’s return in 2014. As one of the most popular sitcoms in British TV, Busted ran for an impressive 12 series spanning over 30 years, but where are the stars today? We’ve taken a look back at what they’ve been up to since.

Birds of a Feather ran for 12 series over 30 years ( 
Image:
Lesley Joseph/Instagram)

Linda Robson

Loose Women panellist Linda has had a long-standing career in TV and film, most notably as Tracey in Birds of a Feather. The 65-year-old actress reprised her role for the show’s revival and has appeared on other TV shows such as The Likely Lads, The Tomorrow People, Going Out, L For Lester, and The Bill, reports the Express.

In 2017, Linda confessed that she had nearly broken down due to being buried under thousands of pounds of debt. She admitted to spending nights lying in bed worrying about her financial situation and avoiding bank letters. The actress previously revealed, “I ran up a lot of debts when Birds of a Feather had ended, but I was used to having a good income and buying things.”

Sam Thompson goes inside Birds Eye pea production

Loose Women star Linda Robson played the notable Tracey Stubbs in Birds of a Feather ( 
Image:
ITV)

She later discussed her financial difficulties with her husband, Mark Dunford, whom she separated from last year after 33 years of marriage, and he helped her pay off some of her debt. Linda, who’s now debt-free, has let on that her kids are in charge of the finances, and she’s got to ask them for spending money.

Pauline Quirke

Pauline Quirke starred as Sharon Theodopolopodous in Birds of a Feather ( 
Image:
Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Pauline with her husband Steve Sheen ( 
Image:
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)Before becoming a household name as Sharon in 1989 on Birds of a Feather, Pauline had already made her mark with roles in The Tomorrow People, Play For Today, The Story Of The Treasure Seekers, and Angels. More recently, she’s graced our screens in hits like Broadchurch and You, Me And The Apocalypse.

However, she was noticeably absent from the Birds of a Feather Christmas special in 2020, fuelling speculation of a rift with her long-time friend and co-star Linda. Fans were left wondering if their five-decade friendship had hit the rocks after a supposed spat, which Linda, a Loose Women regular, firmly denied. Even though Pauline didn’t show up, her lines in the theme tune were cut, along with photos of Tracey and Sharon together.

Rumours swirled that Linda and Pauline had grown apart, but last year, Linda set the record straight. Speaking to The Mirror, she 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. She’s concentrating on her drama academies. She’s very hands-on, going to classes and all that.

Linda and Pauline have been friends for more than 50 years
“I see Lesley [Joseph] all the time because we won Celebrity Coach Trip last year. And during the lockdowns, I would leave funny things on her doorstep, like Tena Lady and hair dye! But when I was ill, both Pauline and Lesley rang me, or a member of my family, every couple of days to see how I was. They were both a big support and really there for me.”

This week, we were saddened to hear the news that Pauline had made the decision to step back from all work following her dementia diagnosis four years ago. Her husband, Steve Sheen, said in the statement: “It is with a heavy heart that I announce my wife Pauline’s decision to step back from all professional and commercial duties due to her diagnosis of Dementia in 2021.”

Lesley Joseph

Lesley Joseph portrayed Dorien Green in the hit BBC sitcom ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Lesley has gone onto star in a variety of shows ( 
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(Image: Getty))
More than two decades after her first TV appearance, Lesley Joseph is best known for her role as Dorien Green in Birds of a Feather. She has had a successful career, featuring in shows such as Minder, Ruth Rendall Mysteries, Night And Day and The Secret Of Eel Island. Despite being private about her personal life, Lesley opened up about the heartbreaking loss of her mother. “Losing a mother when you are very young, that is incredibly difficult because they don’t grow old with you,” she confessed to the Mirror in 2016.

“But if you lose them when they are older, you’ve had them all your life. I had a very close relationship with my mother. She was one of 12, and she was the last of them to die. I talk to her every day, in my head.” She added, “I don’t think you ever lose that – she had a thirst for life Hopefully, touch wood, I’ve got her genes.”

Matt Willis

Matt Willis played Linda’s on-screen son, Gareth Stubbs, on Birds of a Feather in 2014 ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images for The Prince of Egypt)

Matt and Emma Willis share three children and have been married since 2008 ( 
Image:
BAFTA via Getty Images)
Busted star Matt Willis joined the cast of Birds of a Feather in 2014 to play Linda’s on-screen son, Gareth Stubbs, during the show’s revival. While he only had a brief stint on the show, many fans still remember it to this day, with Matt himself sharing his delight at securing the role. He previously said: “I’m so excited to be joining Birds of a Feather playing the role of Garthy! I used to watch the show growing up so this is just a dream job. I can’t believe I’ll be working with Sharon, Tracey and Dorien.”

Before joining the sitcom, Matt had already risen to fame during the 2000s in Busted alongside bandmates Charlie Simpson and James Bourne. The pop-punk band has been off and on throughout its career, first splitting in 2005, during which Matt released his first solo album. The band returned in 2015 with a tour and a new album before shortly parting ways, then returning again as they joined forces with McFlay to form McBusted.

Matt had a brief stint on the show ( 
Image:
Retort/QuirkyMedia Stuff)
Away from music, the 41-year-old clinched the jungle crown in I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! in 2006 and married his wife Emma Willis in 2008. They’ve hosted the UK version of Netflix’s Love is Blind together and share three children, Isabelle, Ace, and Trixie. In the past, Matt has been open about his drug addiction battle and his time spent in rehab on three occasions.

Alun Lewis

Alun Lewis joined the cast as Tracey’s husband, Darryl ( 
Image:
Universal Pictorial Press)

Alun’s daughter Amelia Warner was previously ‘married’ to Colin Farrell ( 
Image:
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Alun Lewis played the recurring role of Tracey’s husband, Darryl, on the hit BBC show before he was replaced by Douglas McFerran. He is also noticeably known for starring in Emmerdale as Vic Windsor before he took a step back from the spotlight. In a field of all talents, Alun also formed part of the rock group The Woolpackers alongside his soap co-stars Steve Halliwell and Billy Hartman.

But Alun isn’t the only famous member of the family, as his daughter Amelia Warner is a musician who goes by the stage name of Slow Moving Millie. She hit the UK charts with a cover of The Smiths’ Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want in 2011 and by 2015 was successfully releasing her own original music.

Another famous tie is Amelia’s former marriage to Irish actor Colin Farrell, making him Alun’s former son-in-law. Amelia and Colin had a whirlwind marriage, having tied the knot in 2001 just four months after meeting, although it was never legalised. Speaking of their wedding, Amelia confessed: “It was just a thing we did on holiday. We went shark feeding and then we did that. We booked them both on the activities desk at the hotel – it really wasn’t this secret wedding that no one was invited to.

“It was lovely, it was silly, it was sweet, but by no means was it a serious thing, and I think my mum thought it was quite funny.” However, the couple did go on to get engaged before parting ways. Amelia went on to meet Fifty Shades actor Jamie Dornan in 2010, and today, they are happily married with three daughters, Dulcie, Elva and Alberta.

Peter Polycarpou

Peter Polycarpou starred as Pauline’s husband, Chris ( 
Image:
Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Then there was Peter Polycarpou, who played the role of Pauline’s husband, Chris, for five series. After his time on Birds of a Feather, he starred in BBC’s Hustle and the thriller Cleanskin alongside Sean Bean. His career has also spanned to theatre productions, having appeared in Sancho in Man of La Mancha for the English National Opera in 2019 with Kelsey Grammar and Nicholas Lyndhurst.

Away from acting he went into the world of politics and became a Green Party politician, standing for local election in Muswell Hill. Strikingly, he has also played cricket for the world-famous Lord’s Taverners as a wicketkeeper.