For more than a decade, Birds of a Feather followed the chaotic lives of two sisters whose family circumstances were turned upside down after their husbands were sent to prison. The sitcom first aired in 1989, ran until Christmas Eve 1998, returned in 2014 with an opening episode watched by almost eight million viewers, and came back for a Christmas special in 2020.
Some cast members have remained in the spotlight, while others have chosen quieter lives. Here is where the show's most frequent stars are now.
The sisters and Dorien
The central characters were Tracey and Sharon, sisters from very different backgrounds. Tracey lived 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. When both husbands were jailed for armed robbery, Sharon moved in with Tracey, creating the setup at the heart of the comedy.
Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson starred as the sisters, with Lesley Joseph as their flamboyant neighbour Dorien Green. The partnership helped make the show a television favourite.
Pauline Quirke
Pauline Quirke played Sharon Theodopolopodous, the younger sister of Tracey and wife of Chris. She won a British Comedy Award in 1990 for her performance. In January 2025, it was announced that she 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, praising her work in television, film and charity and the legacy of the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts.
Quirke also 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 Maisie Raine, Broadchurch and Emmerdale, where she played Hazel Rhodes between 2010 and 2012. She was made an MBE in 2022 for services to entertainment, young people and charity.
Linda Robson
Linda Robson played Tracey Stubbs, the other sister, and became one of British television's most recognisable faces. After the original run, she became a regular panellist on ITV's Loose Women and appeared on Celebrity MasterChef, Casualty and I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!
In 2022, she reunited with Lesley Joseph for Celebrity Coach Trip, and the pair won the series. She has continued to appear on TV, with breaks from Loose Women over the years. Robson 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, and she would not discuss the matter further out of respect for Pauline.
Lesley Joseph
Lesley Joseph played Dorien Green, the glamorous and outspoken neighbour, in the original run from 1989 to 1998 and again in the revival from 2014 to 2020. Away from television, she has had a long stage career in productions including Thoroughly Modern Millie, Calendar Girls and Annie. She was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for the original West End production of Young Frankenstein.
Joseph has continued working 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
Alun Lewis played Darryl Stubbs, Tracey's husband, from 1989 to 1994 before the character was later played by Douglas McFerran. Lewis also played Vic Windsor in Emmerdale from 1993 to 1998. He was involved with The Woolpackers, the Emmerdale band that had a major chart success with Hillbilly Rock Hillbilly Roll in 1996.
Lewis is the father of composer Amelia Warner, who is married to actor Jamie Dornan. After his roles in Birds of a Feather and Emmerdale, he largely stepped away from the public eye.
Peter Polycarpou
Peter Polycarpou played Chris Theodopolopodous, Sharon's husband, in the early 1990s, with the character also played by David Cardy. 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 in 2006.
Polycarpou has also taken on many stage roles, including Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha for English National Opera at the London Coliseum in 2019, opposite Kelsey Grammer. Theatre remains an important part of his career, and 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 played Garth Stubbs, Tracey's son, for much of the original run, appearing in the role more frequently than any other actor. He later moved into music, joining folk-rock band Levellers as their keyboard player in 2003 and staying with the group, also providing backing vocals.
