Birds of a Feather
Encyclopedia
Birds of a Feather was a British
sitcom
that was broadcast on BBC1 from 1989 until 1998. Starring Pauline Quirke
, Linda Robson
and Lesley Joseph
, it was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
, who also wrote some of the episodes along with many other writers.
The first episode sees sisters Tracey Stubbs (Robson) and Sharon Theodopolopodos (Quirke) brought together when their husbands are sent to prison for armed robbery
. Sharon, who lived in an Edmonton
council flat
, moves into Tracey's expensive house in Chigwell
, Essex
. Their next-door neighbour, and later friend, Dorien Green (Joseph) is a middle-aged married woman who is constantly having affairs with younger men. In the later series the location is changed to Hainault
.
Production ceased on Christmas Eve 1998 after a very successful 9-year-run.
On 3 March 2009, the The Mirror reported that the classic sitcom was set for a return reporting that Lesley Joseph, Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson have all been asked by the team behind the sitcom to make another series. Quirke was reported as saying that they were up for the challenge if the writers came up with good ideas. As of August 2011, no new information regarding a new series has been released.
On 8 July 2010, Linda Robson confirmed on 'This Morning' that a script has been written for a stage show, which all three actresses are keen to be involved with, but this would depend on the availability of Pauline Quirke, who had just been contracted to 'Emmerdale
' for 6 months. Quirke announced on 16th May 2011 that she would be leaving Emmerdale at Christmas 2011, and that a touring version of Birds of a Feather would start in spring 2012.
, moves into her wealthy sister's luxury home in Chigwell
, so that the two can give each other support.
Sharon has always felt inadequate next to her slimmer, elder sister Tracey and felt she had the tougher childhood
. Her marriage to Chris, a waster of Greek Cypriot
descent, was miserable and childless, due to her "inability" to have children. She is condemned by Chris's family for this but Sharon discovers, during series one, that Chris is the infertile one. Sharon happily cheats on Chris and gives him grief when visiting.
Tracey, however, loves her husband, Darryl, whose legitimate business was building conservatories (he was a bank robber on the side). He and Tracey have a son, Garth, who becomes a chef after going to boarding school, and eventually marries Kimberley.
The sisters' neighbour is the wealthy, snobbish, man-eating Dorien Green. Dorien is married to the rarely seen
Marcus, but is always getting involved with other men. Dorien and Marcus are Jewish. Her marriage was also childless, due to her vanity and the lack of affection between her and Marcus. She is a regular, if uninvited, guest at Tracey's house, and mocks Sharon about her weight, whilst Sharon teases Dorien about her lifestyle and age. This mutual teasing is friendly and playful rather than serious or hurtful, and it is often shown that Sharon and Tracey care for Dorien and vice versa. If any of them get into trouble or have a problem, the others are often the first to help, regardless of the consequences.
Marcus eventually tires of Dorien's selfishness and infidelity and leaves her to begin a new life with his secret mistress and love child. Dorien later starts a loving relationship with Richard, which is initially strained due to Richard's children taking an instant dislike to Dorien, which she gladly reciprocates.
There is some uncertainty about Dorien's maiden name. She says that her father's name was Arthur Friedman, but a wedding invitation to Sharon and Tracey reveals her mother's name to be Estelle Kapper. Dorien's mother appears on screen once but is often mentioned as an icy, domineering woman, and the two clearly have a stormy relationship.
In the series seven episode, "Porridge", Darryl and Chris are released from prison and are determined to start afresh. Chris feels remorse for his crimes and for not treating Sharon better during their marriage. He impresses Sharon by getting an honest job as a pizza delivery man. Darryl, however, feels that the only way to treat Tracey is to return to unscrupulous tactics. He attempts to launder counterfeit
money into Sharon and Tracey's swimming pool business but is caught and once again imprisoned - along with an innocent Chris, much to Sharon's dismay. Darryl and Tracey's marriage is severely strained after this, and Tracey contemplates leaving Darryl, but decides against it. However, she does warn him that she will not stay faithful.
Sharon and Tracey's maternal aunt, "Auntie Sylvie" (Vivian Pickles
), is frequently mentioned and appears twice.
, Gary Lawson & John Phelps (writer), Geoff Rowley, Sue Teddem, Peter Tilbury
, Geoff Deane, Tony Millan & Mike Walling
, Damon Rochefort
and Sam Lawrence. Keith Lindsay & Martin Tomms
, Steve Coombes & Dave Robinson, George Costigan
& Julia North, John Ross, Frankie Bailey, Miles Tredinnick
, Jenny Lecoat, Alun Lewis
, Richard Preddy
& Gary Howe
and Ian Davidson
& Peter Vincent & Tony Jordan
all wrote one episode each.
"What'll I Do
". From the first series Berlin sang it but from the third series onwards is sung by Quirke and Robson.
During the opening theme for series 1, Quirke and Robson were seen both dressed in a white shirt and a black skirt and they walked towards to screen through several spotlights. Once they reached the screen it faded to Quirke and Robson sat back to back as they rotated.
The ending theme was an extended version sung by Quirke and Robson together. And it showed Quirke and Robson walking to the screen and back, passing through the spot lights, while the credits rolled on the left of the screen.
Series 2 featured the same music as series 1 but introduced the new opening which featured pictures of characters Sharon and Tracey as they grow up.
For the picture transition, the pictures faded. The last picture remained until the entire screen faded into the episode.
The episode closing theme, was an extended version of the song which was still sung by Quirke and Robson but they did not sing together, they had separate verses to sing, but they sang the last line together, "That won't come true, what'll I do".
The video was of the child actors that are supposed to be a young Sharon and Tracey, in the second picture of the opening theme, out in a park eating ice creams with their teddies, chasing each other, Tracey trying to get Sharon to play, Sharon jumping down some steps, Tracey looking through a railing to a pond and it ends with Sharon and Tracey waving bye and running away from the screen together.
Series 3 introduced a new version of the song which was performed by Quirke and Robson. Robson sang the first verse and Quirke sang the last. It used the same video as the series 2 opening and closing theme.
(ABC TV
), New Zealand
, Spain
and South Africa
. The show is regularly re-run on Australian & New Zealand pay TV.
An American
adaptation, called Stand by Your Man
was made by Fox
. Rosie O'Donnell
played hard-up Lorraine Popowski, while Melissa Gilbert-Brinkman
played her rich sister Rochelle Dunphy. Sam McMurray
played Rochelle's husband Roger, and Rick Hall played Lorraine's husband Artie. The Dorien character was called Adrienne Stone played by Miriam Flynn
. The series was broadcast for only eight episodes from 5 April 1992 to 9 August 1992.
on 6 January 2003. Series One was released in Region 4 (Australia
) in March 2007.
Series One was re-released with different packaging on 1 June 2009 and at the time FremantleMedia
said that there were no plans to release the remaining series.
Series 1 was re-released for a 3rd time with new packaging along with Series 2 on 30 August 2010 through Network
.
Series 3 & 4 were released on 31 January 2011 and were followed by series 5 & 6 on 21 February, series 7 & 8 on 7 March and series 9 on 11 April 2011. The Complete Series 1-9 box set was released on 10 October 2011
All releases are through Network
and are fully comprehensive of the entire 9 series, including special episodes in order of broadcast.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
that was broadcast on BBC1 from 1989 until 1998. Starring Pauline Quirke
Pauline Quirke
Pauline Perpetua Quirke is a British actress. She is best known for her role as Sharon in the comedy series Birds of a Feather, alongside her lifelong friend and frequent acting partner Linda Robson...
, Linda Robson
Linda Robson
Linda Patricia Mary Robson is an English actress. She played Tracey in the BBC comedy, Birds of a Feather from 1989 to 1998.-Personal life and education:...
and Lesley Joseph
Lesley Joseph
Lesley D Joseph is an English actress and broadcaster.-Life and career:Joseph was born in Northampton. She is best known for starring in the BBC sitcom Birds of a Feather from 1989–1998, in which she played Dorien Green, the Jewish next-door neighbour of the main characters Sharon and Tracy...
, it was created by Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran
Maurice Gran
Maurice Bernard Gran is one half of writing duo Marks & Gran. He co-wrote popular sitcoms The New Statesman, Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart with Laurence Marks. He is also the co-author of Prudence at Number 10, a fictional diary supposedly written by Gordon Brown's P.A.-External links:...
, who also wrote some of the episodes along with many other writers.
The first episode sees sisters Tracey Stubbs (Robson) and Sharon Theodopolopodos (Quirke) brought together when their husbands are sent to prison for armed robbery
Robbery
Robbery is the crime of taking or attempting to take something of value by force or threat of force or by putting the victim in fear. At common law, robbery is defined as taking the property of another, with the intent to permanently deprive the person of that property, by means of force or fear....
. Sharon, who lived in an Edmonton
Edmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
council flat
Council house
A council house, otherwise known as a local authority house, is a form of public or social housing. The term is used primarily in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Council houses were built and operated by local councils to supply uncrowded, well-built homes on secure tenancies at...
, moves into Tracey's expensive house in Chigwell
Chigwell
Chigwell is a civil parish and town in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located 11.6 miles north east of Charing Cross. It is served by two London Underground stations and has a London area code.-Etymology:According to P. H...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. Their next-door neighbour, and later friend, Dorien Green (Joseph) is a middle-aged married woman who is constantly having affairs with younger men. In the later series the location is changed to Hainault
Hainault
Hainault is an area in the London Borough of Redbridge in north east London. It is a suburban development located north east of Charing Cross...
.
Production ceased on Christmas Eve 1998 after a very successful 9-year-run.
On 3 March 2009, the The Mirror reported that the classic sitcom was set for a return reporting that Lesley Joseph, Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson have all been asked by the team behind the sitcom to make another series. Quirke was reported as saying that they were up for the challenge if the writers came up with good ideas. As of August 2011, no new information regarding a new series has been released.
On 8 July 2010, Linda Robson confirmed on 'This Morning' that a script has been written for a stage show, which all three actresses are keen to be involved with, but this would depend on the availability of Pauline Quirke, who had just been contracted to 'Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
' for 6 months. Quirke announced on 16th May 2011 that she would be leaving Emmerdale at Christmas 2011, and that a touring version of Birds of a Feather would start in spring 2012.
Cast
- Pauline QuirkePauline QuirkePauline Perpetua Quirke is a British actress. She is best known for her role as Sharon in the comedy series Birds of a Feather, alongside her lifelong friend and frequent acting partner Linda Robson...
: Sharon Theodopolopodos - Linda RobsonLinda RobsonLinda Patricia Mary Robson is an English actress. She played Tracey in the BBC comedy, Birds of a Feather from 1989 to 1998.-Personal life and education:...
: Tracey Stubbs - Lesley JosephLesley JosephLesley D Joseph is an English actress and broadcaster.-Life and career:Joseph was born in Northampton. She is best known for starring in the BBC sitcom Birds of a Feather from 1989–1998, in which she played Dorien Green, the Jewish next-door neighbour of the main characters Sharon and Tracy...
: Dorien Green - David Cardy: Chris Theodopolopodos (series 1; 7 and 8)
- Peter PolycarpouPeter PolycarpouPeter Polycarpou is a British stage and TV and film actor, best known for playing Chris Theodopolopoudos in the television comedy series Birds of a Feather.-Career:...
: Chris Theodopolopodos (series 2 to 1994 Special) - Alun LewisAlun Lewis (actor)Alun Lewis is a Welsh actor best known for his role in ITV's Emmerdale as postmaster Vic Windsor and Darryl Stubbs in BBC1 sitcom Birds of a Feather.He was born in Garnant, the son of Sarah Gwen and Gorden Bennett...
: Darryl Stubbs (series 1 to 1994 Special) - Doug McFerran: Darryl Stubbs (series 7)
- Simon NashSimon Nash- Television Fame :Nash made his television debut in 1980 at the age of 8 as Sammy in the 1980 sitcom Nobody's Perfect. He later starred as Sean Stebbings in the 1987 black sitcom Tickets for the Titanic, as Garth Stubbs in the first series of Birds of a Feather, and in the children's TV programme...
: Garth Stubbs (series 1) - Matt Savage: Garth Stubbs (from series 2)
- Stephen GreifStephen GreifStephen Greif is an award-winning English actor.His television appearances include Waking the Dead , Spooks , Mistresses 2 , He Kills Coppers , Holby City , The Last Days of Pompeii as Sporus, Judge John Deed , Space Race , EastEnders , The Bill and...
: Marcus Green (1990 Christmas Special) - Nickolas GraceNickolas GraceNickolas Grace is a British actor known for his roles on television, including Anthony Blanche in the acclaimed ITV adaptation of Brideshead Revisited and the Sheriff of Nottingham in the 1980s series Robin of Sherwood...
: Marcus Green (series 1, 5 and 7)
Plot
For sisters Sharon Theodopolopodos and Tracey Stubbs, life is never the same again when their husbands are convicted of armed robbery and sent to prison. Sharon, a common, large and loud-mouthed character from EdmontonEdmonton, London
Edmonton is an area in the east of the London Borough of Enfield, England, north-north-east of Charing Cross. It has a long history as a settlement distinct from Enfield.-Location:...
, moves into her wealthy sister's luxury home in Chigwell
Chigwell
Chigwell is a civil parish and town in the Epping Forest district of Essex. It is located 11.6 miles north east of Charing Cross. It is served by two London Underground stations and has a London area code.-Etymology:According to P. H...
, so that the two can give each other support.
Sharon has always felt inadequate next to her slimmer, elder sister Tracey and felt she had the tougher childhood
Childhood
Childhood is the age span ranging from birth to adolescence. In developmental psychology, childhood is divided up into the developmental stages of toddlerhood , early childhood , middle childhood , and adolescence .- Age ranges of childhood :The term childhood is non-specific and can imply a...
. Her marriage to Chris, a waster of Greek Cypriot
Greek Cypriots
Greek Cypriots are the ethnic Greek population of Cyprus, forming the island's largest ethnolinguistic community at 77% of the population. Greek Cypriots are mostly members of the Church of Cyprus, an autocephalous Greek Orthodox Church within the wider communion of Orthodox Christianity...
descent, was miserable and childless, due to her "inability" to have children. She is condemned by Chris's family for this but Sharon discovers, during series one, that Chris is the infertile one. Sharon happily cheats on Chris and gives him grief when visiting.
Tracey, however, loves her husband, Darryl, whose legitimate business was building conservatories (he was a bank robber on the side). He and Tracey have a son, Garth, who becomes a chef after going to boarding school, and eventually marries Kimberley.
The sisters' neighbour is the wealthy, snobbish, man-eating Dorien Green. Dorien is married to the rarely seen
Unseen character
In fiction, an unseen character is a character that is never directly observed by the audience but is only described by other characters. They are a common device in drama and have been called "triumphs of theatrical invention". They are continuing characters — characters who are currently in...
Marcus, but is always getting involved with other men. Dorien and Marcus are Jewish. Her marriage was also childless, due to her vanity and the lack of affection between her and Marcus. She is a regular, if uninvited, guest at Tracey's house, and mocks Sharon about her weight, whilst Sharon teases Dorien about her lifestyle and age. This mutual teasing is friendly and playful rather than serious or hurtful, and it is often shown that Sharon and Tracey care for Dorien and vice versa. If any of them get into trouble or have a problem, the others are often the first to help, regardless of the consequences.
Marcus eventually tires of Dorien's selfishness and infidelity and leaves her to begin a new life with his secret mistress and love child. Dorien later starts a loving relationship with Richard, which is initially strained due to Richard's children taking an instant dislike to Dorien, which she gladly reciprocates.
There is some uncertainty about Dorien's maiden name. She says that her father's name was Arthur Friedman, but a wedding invitation to Sharon and Tracey reveals her mother's name to be Estelle Kapper. Dorien's mother appears on screen once but is often mentioned as an icy, domineering woman, and the two clearly have a stormy relationship.
In the series seven episode, "Porridge", Darryl and Chris are released from prison and are determined to start afresh. Chris feels remorse for his crimes and for not treating Sharon better during their marriage. He impresses Sharon by getting an honest job as a pizza delivery man. Darryl, however, feels that the only way to treat Tracey is to return to unscrupulous tactics. He attempts to launder counterfeit
Counterfeit
To counterfeit means to illegally imitate something. Counterfeit products are often produced with the intent to take advantage of the superior value of the imitated product...
money into Sharon and Tracey's swimming pool business but is caught and once again imprisoned - along with an innocent Chris, much to Sharon's dismay. Darryl and Tracey's marriage is severely strained after this, and Tracey contemplates leaving Darryl, but decides against it. However, she does warn him that she will not stay faithful.
Sharon and Tracey's maternal aunt, "Auntie Sylvie" (Vivian Pickles
Vivian Pickles
Vivian Pickles , is an English actress.She began her career as a child star after being chosen by Mary Field for a series of Saturday Morning children's films, including the lead roles in Jean's Plan and the serial The Adventures of Peter Joe...
), is frequently mentioned and appears twice.
Episodes
Birds of a Feather was broadcast for 102 episodes from 16 October 1989 to 24 December 1998. 95 episodes are thirty minutes in length, while one is forty minutes, four are 50 minutes, one is 60 minutes and one is 75 minutes. Most episodes were written by Laurence Marks & Maurice GranMaurice Gran
Maurice Bernard Gran is one half of writing duo Marks & Gran. He co-wrote popular sitcoms The New Statesman, Birds of a Feather and Goodnight Sweetheart with Laurence Marks. He is also the co-author of Prudence at Number 10, a fictional diary supposedly written by Gordon Brown's P.A.-External links:...
, Gary Lawson & John Phelps (writer), Geoff Rowley, Sue Teddem, Peter Tilbury
Peter Tilbury
Peter Tilbury born 20 October 1945 in Redruth, Cornwall in England is a British actor and writer.As an actor Tilbury's television appearances include Dixon of Dock Green , It Takes a Worried Man , Miss Marple , Fortunes of War Casualty , The Bill , Birds of a Feather , and Chef! .As a television...
, Geoff Deane, Tony Millan & Mike Walling
Mike Walling
Mike Walling is an English comic actor and screenwriter.He began his career as an English teacher at Holland Park School in London. In the mid-1970s, while still a teacher, he won a British TV talent contest, New Faces, with a comedy double act called "Mr Carline & Mr Walling." He immediately...
, Damon Rochefort
Damon Rochefort
Damon Rochefort is a Welsh musician, songwriter and writer.He was born to Barry and Kaye Rochefort.He has had success in music in the 1990s with his band, Nomad, with the international hits "I Wanna Give you Devotion" and "Just a Groove"; as well as writing and producing hits for Kim Wilde, Bad...
and Sam Lawrence. Keith Lindsay & Martin Tomms
Martin Conway (author)
Martin John Smith , who writes childrens books under the name Martin Conway is a British actor/writer. Under the name Martin Tomms he has also written for TV and radio, as Martin Tomms he also has also worked as an actor on TV, radio and theatre...
, Steve Coombes & Dave Robinson, George Costigan
George Costigan
-Early life:Costigan was born in Portsmouth and grew up in Irlams o' th' Height and Weaste in Salford. He attended St. Augustine's C of E Primary School on Bolton Road in Pendlebury, then Wardley Grammar School on Mardale Avenue in Wardley near Swinton.-Career:...
& Julia North, John Ross, Frankie Bailey, Miles Tredinnick
Miles Tredinnick
Miles Tredinnick, also known as Riff Regan, is a rock musician, songwriter and a stage and screen writer. In the 1970s, he was the lead singer with the British rock band London. Afterwards he went on to write comedy plays for the stage...
, Jenny Lecoat, Alun Lewis
Alun Lewis (actor)
Alun Lewis is a Welsh actor best known for his role in ITV's Emmerdale as postmaster Vic Windsor and Darryl Stubbs in BBC1 sitcom Birds of a Feather.He was born in Garnant, the son of Sarah Gwen and Gorden Bennett...
, Richard Preddy
Richard Preddy
Richard Preddy is a British comedy writer and performer, most noted for working in the sketch show Smack the Pony and the sitcom Green Wing...
& Gary Howe
Gary Howe
Gary Howe is a British comedy writer and performer, most noted for working in the sketch show Smack the Pony and the sitcom Green Wing...
and Ian Davidson
Ian Davidson (scriptwriter)
Ian Davidson is a British actor and scriptwriter who worked in British television comedies from the 1960s to the 1980s. He appeared in the same Oxford University revue as Terry Jones and Michael Palin of Monty Python, and is probably best known for his numerous appearances on Monty Python's Flying...
& Peter Vincent & Tony Jordan
Tony Jordan
Tony Jordan is a British television writer. He was listed as the number 1 television screen writer in the UK by Broadcast magazine and among British Broadcastings Top 20 in The Stage ., He currently resides in Hertfordshire, UK.For many years, he was lead writer and series consultant for BBC One...
all wrote one episode each.
Theme Tune
The theme tune was Irving Berlin'sIrving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
"What'll I Do
What'll I Do
"What'll I Do" is the name of a song written by Irving Berlin in 1923. It was introduced by singers Grace Moore and John Steel late in the run of Berlin's third Music Box Revue and also was included in the following year's edition...
". From the first series Berlin sang it but from the third series onwards is sung by Quirke and Robson.
- Series 1
During the opening theme for series 1, Quirke and Robson were seen both dressed in a white shirt and a black skirt and they walked towards to screen through several spotlights. Once they reached the screen it faded to Quirke and Robson sat back to back as they rotated.
The ending theme was an extended version sung by Quirke and Robson together. And it showed Quirke and Robson walking to the screen and back, passing through the spot lights, while the credits rolled on the left of the screen.
Series 2 featured the same music as series 1 but introduced the new opening which featured pictures of characters Sharon and Tracey as they grow up.
- Sharon and Tracey as babies, could be toddlers.
- As young children (this stage of their lives is featured in the closing theme)
- As children, grown up
- As teenagers, from this picture onwards it is actually Quirke and Robson that featured in the pictures.
- As young adults
- As adults, which could on Tracey's wedding day. From this picture onwards, the pictures are in colour.
- As adults, which could be on Sharon's wedding day.
- As adults, now as they appear in the series.
For the picture transition, the pictures faded. The last picture remained until the entire screen faded into the episode.
The episode closing theme, was an extended version of the song which was still sung by Quirke and Robson but they did not sing together, they had separate verses to sing, but they sang the last line together, "That won't come true, what'll I do".
The video was of the child actors that are supposed to be a young Sharon and Tracey, in the second picture of the opening theme, out in a park eating ice creams with their teddies, chasing each other, Tracey trying to get Sharon to play, Sharon jumping down some steps, Tracey looking through a railing to a pond and it ends with Sharon and Tracey waving bye and running away from the screen together.
- Series 3 - 9
Series 3 introduced a new version of the song which was performed by Quirke and Robson. Robson sang the first verse and Quirke sang the last. It used the same video as the series 2 opening and closing theme.
Other countries
Birds of a Feather was sold to over 30 countries worldwide, and the format was sold to countries including AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
(ABC TV
ABC Television
ABC Television is a service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation launched in 1956. As a public broadcasting broadcaster, the ABC provides four non-commercial channels within Australia, and a partially advertising-funded satellite channel overseas....
), New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The show is regularly re-run on Australian & New Zealand pay TV.
An American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
adaptation, called Stand by Your Man
Stand By Your Man (TV Series)
Stand By Your Man was an American sitcom that aired on FOX from April 5, 1992 until May 17, 1992. The series was created by Nancy Steen and Neil Thompson, who also wrote some of the episodes...
was made by Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
. Rosie O'Donnell
Rosie O'Donnell
Roseann "Rosie" O'Donnell is an American stand-up comedian, actress, author and television personality. She has also been a magazine editor and continues to be a celebrity blogger, LGBT rights activist, television producer and collaborative partner in the LGBT family vacation company R Family...
played hard-up Lorraine Popowski, while Melissa Gilbert-Brinkman
Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Ellen Gilbert is an American actress, writer, and producer, primarily in movies and television. Gilbert is best known as a child actress who co-starred as Charles Ingalls's second daughter, Laura Ingalls Wilder, on the dramatic television series Little House on the Prairie...
played her rich sister Rochelle Dunphy. Sam McMurray
Sam McMurray
Sam McMurray is an American television, film and voice actor.-Early life:McMurray was born in New York City, the son of Jane and Richard McMurray, both actors...
played Rochelle's husband Roger, and Rick Hall played Lorraine's husband Artie. The Dorien character was called Adrienne Stone played by Miriam Flynn
Miriam Flynn
Miriam Flynn is an American voice actress and character actress. She is best known as Cousin Catherine in the National Lampoon's Vacation franchise. As a voice artist, she has been featured in The Land Before Time series, Taz-Mania as the title character's mother, Jean, Poil in The Spooktacular...
. The series was broadcast for only eight episodes from 5 April 1992 to 9 August 1992.
VHS
While the series was airing on BBC1 in the 1990's there were some VHS releases of episodes from the series.DVD
The first series of Birds of a Feather was released by Prism Leisure CorporationPrism Leisure Corporation
Prism Leisure Corporation was a distribution and publishing company which primarily focused on reissues and compilations, often at low prices. The company was located in Enfield, Middlesex, United Kingdom, and founded in the 1980s....
on 6 January 2003. Series One was released in Region 4 (Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
) in March 2007.
Series One was re-released with different packaging on 1 June 2009 and at the time FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia
FremantleMedia, Ltd. is the content and production division of Bertelsmann's RTL Group, Europe's second largest TV, radio, and production company...
said that there were no plans to release the remaining series.
Series 1 was re-released for a 3rd time with new packaging along with Series 2 on 30 August 2010 through Network
Network DVD
Network DVD is a DVD publishing company that specialises in classic British television. In particular, it has the rights to a number of well-known ITV programmes...
.
Series 3 & 4 were released on 31 January 2011 and were followed by series 5 & 6 on 21 February, series 7 & 8 on 7 March and series 9 on 11 April 2011. The Complete Series 1-9 box set was released on 10 October 2011
All releases are through Network
Network DVD
Network DVD is a DVD publishing company that specialises in classic British television. In particular, it has the rights to a number of well-known ITV programmes...
and are fully comprehensive of the entire 9 series, including special episodes in order of broadcast.
| DVD Title | No. of discs | Year | No. of episodes | DVD release | Special episodes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 2 DVD region code DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region... |
||||||
| Complete Series 1 | 1 | 1989 | 6 + special | 30 August 2010 | 1989 Christmas special | |
| Complete Series 2 | 3 | 1990 | 15 + special | 30 August 2010 | 1990 Christmas special | |
| Complete Series 3 | 2 | 1991 | 12 + special | 31 January 2011 | 1991 Christmas special | |
| Complete Series 4 | 2 | 1992 | 13 + special | 31 January 2011 | 1992 Christmas special | |
| Complete Series 5 | 3 | 1993 | 13 + special | 21 February 2011 | 1993 Christmas special | |
| Complete Series 6 | 3 | 1994 | 14 + special | 21 February 2011 | 1994 Christmas special | |
| Complete Series 7 | 2 | 1997 | 10 + special | 7 March 2011 | The Chigwell Years - Special Episode | |
| Complete Series 8 | 1 | 1998 | 6 + special | 7 March 2011 | 1997 Christmas special | |
| Complete Series 9 | 1 | 1998 | 6 | 11 April 2011 | ||
| Complete Collection | 19 | 1989 - 1998 | 102 | 10 October 2011 | Christmas specials and special episode "The Chigwell Years" | |
External links
- Birds of a Feather at British TV Comedy Guide