Birds of a Feather is remembered as a hugely popular sitcom, running for 12 seasons over three decades. The actors who starred in the show led fascinating lives outside of their roles, too.
Viewers quickly fell in love with the show’s stars, and its theme song is just as iconic as the characters themselves. The show centered around Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, who played sisters dealing with their husbands being in prison.
Tracey Stubbs and Sharon Theodopolopodous, two sisters from London, must rely on each other after their husbands are imprisoned for armed robbery. Though they don’t always see eye-to-eye, they join forces to cope with the difficult situation.
Sharon, facing hard times, leaves her apartment in Edmonton to move in with her sister Tracey in her more luxurious home in Chigwell. This new setting becomes the iconic location for the beloved nineties sitcom.
The two women become friends with their attractive and flirtatious neighbor, Dorien Green (played by Lesley Joseph). Viewers soon learn that Dorien is unhappy in her marriage and repeatedly has affairs with younger men, which often end badly.
The popular show first aired from 1989 to 1998, and then returned in 2014 for three more seasons. A Christmas special in 2020 marked the final episode, though one of the main characters was missing.
I was absolutely gutted when Tracey wasn’t in the last episode! It was such an emotional finale, and she just had to be there. Apparently, Linda said she was really throwing herself into drama school around that time, which is great for her, but it all happened when everyone started talking about a falling out between them, so it just felt…wrong. I mean, they were supposed to be best friends on and off screen, and to not see her in the finale after all this time? It broke my heart, honestly.
The actress’ husband has shared that she has been diagnosed with dementia and has stopped acting to focus on her family.
Most recently, Lesley gave a devastating health update on her best friend’s dementia battle.
Pauline, age 65, received a diagnosis of the illness in 2021. However, it wasn’t until her husband, Steve Sheen, publicly shared the news in January that people became aware of her condition.
Eighty-year-old Lesley recently shared that the actress is struggling, providing an update while speaking with Bella magazine at the Variety Club Showbusiness Awards.
She shared that Pauline hasn’t been doing well since her dementia diagnosis some time ago, and is currently quite unwell. She hasn’t been able to visit recently, but plans to go see her next week.
After learning about Pauline’s declining health, TopMob explores the interesting lives of the show’s cast and the lasting impact – both good and bad – they’ve had.
Alun Lewis
Most fans recognize Alun as Darryl, Tracey’s husband on the show, but there are a few interesting things about him that people might not know.
The actor is well-known because of his famous daughter, and he playfully refers to both of her husbands – both major stars themselves – as his ‘sons-in-law’.
Alun was a regular character on the show throughout the nineties, but Douglas McFerran later took over the role.
Darryl’s ongoing legal troubles created difficulties in his marriage to Tracey, starting with a prison sentence for armed robbery.
The character, then played by Douglas, was killed during a failed robbery.
Alun is also famous for playing Vic Windsor on Emmerdale, but he chose to reduce his public appearances after these two significant roles.
Besides his acting career, Alun was also a musician. He played in a rock band called The Woolpackers with his colleagues Steve Halliwell and Billy Hartman.
Okay, so you won’t BELIEVE this! It’s totally fascinating to look into Alun Warner’s family life, especially his daughter Amelia. And honestly? The guys she’s dated – the actors he’s let into his inner circle – it’s wild! I’ve been digging, and it’s seriously interesting to see who’s been close to her and, by extension, to him. It’s just… a whole thing, you know?
Like her father, Amelia is a musician. She performs under the name Slow Moving Millie.
She began her acting journey with the Royal Court’s youth theatre, and in 2000, she appeared in the BBC’s television adaptation of Lorna Doone.
She then transitioned to a music career, achieving chart success in the UK in 2011 with a cover of The Smiths’ “Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want,” which peaked at number 31.
By 2015, Amelia was self-releasing original music with her first EP called Arms.
As for her love life, Amelia was married to Colin Farrell for a brief period of time.
Her two worlds collided in the next years when she started producing music for films.
In 2018, Amelia received the Breakthrough Composer of the Year award from the International Film Music Critics Association for her work on the film Mary Shelley, which was her first major film score.
Amelia and Colin had a quick romance, marrying in Tahiti in 2001 just four months after they first met. However, the marriage wasn’t officially registered, so it wasn’t legally valid.
Colin showed his devotion to Amelia by getting her name tattooed on his finger, but their relationship ended after only four months.
She said afterwards of the wedding: ‘It was just a thing we did on holiday.
We went shark feeding and did another activity. We booked both through the hotel’s activities desk – it definitely wasn’t a secret wedding, and everyone was welcome to join!
It was a fun, lighthearted, and endearing experience, but definitely not something to be taken seriously. I think my mum found it amusing.
Despite the fact that their wedding started as a prank, they were genuinely engaged, and Amelia was heartbroken when they broke up.
She told The Sun: ‘Maybe if we had lasted longer as a couple, we would have legalised it.
I have really fond memories of my time with Colin. I’ll always care for him, but we’re just friends now.
After separating from her husband, she began dating actor Jamie Dornan in 2010, and they now have three children together.
Jamie once shared on the show Face to Face that he had a strong feeling he and Amelia would connect if they ever met. He explained it was a gut feeling, specifically mentioning something about her eyes made him believe they’d be a good match.
Oh my god, you will NOT believe how they met! He was on James Corden’s show and told the whole story. Apparently, he already knew who she was because she’s an actress, and they were doing karaoke – karaoke! – when a friend told him Amelia Warner was at a party nearby and, get this, she was SINGLE. He said he literally dropped the mic RIGHT THEN AND THERE and just ran to find her! Can you even imagine?! It’s the most adorable, perfect story ever, and honestly, it just makes me love them even more.
During a January 2024 interview on Desert Island Discs, Jamie became emotional while sharing that thinking about his wife is what would help him cope with being stranded.
Jamie was a guest on Lauren Laverne’s BBC Radio 4 program, and he revealed that ‘Forever’ by The Beach Boys is the song he’d risk anything to get back.
Jamie shared a heartfelt story about the song, explaining it always reminds him of his wife, Amelia, a fellow musician, and their three daughters. He said it would be among his most cherished songs.
Lauren finished the interview by asking, ‘If all eight of the songs you played for us today were about to be washed away by a wave, which one would you save?’
“Forever by The Beach Boys,” Jamie said, his voice catching with emotion. “What I really need right now is to think about my wife and everything she’s done for me and our family.”
The couple got married in 2013 and soon after had three daughters: Dulcie, born that same year, Elva in 2016, and Alberta in 2019.
Peter Polycarpou
Peter portrayed Pauline’s husband, Chris, on television for five seasons. However, he’s led a fascinating life off-camera, even trying his hand at politics.
During the show, Peter got involved in one of Darryl’s crazy plans and was unfairly sent back to prison, even though he was trying to turn his life around.
After Birds of a Feather, Peter starred in popular shows like Hustle on the BBC and the thriller Cleanskin, alongside Sean Bean.
Since leaving the show, Peter has been in several popular TV series, such as Hustle on BBC and the thriller Cleanskin, where he acted with Sean Bean.
Actor Peter Andre, who has Cypriot heritage, appeared in several films, including Evita with Madonna, Oklahoma!, and De-Lovely.
Peter has spent most of his acting career performing on stage. Notably, in 2019, he played Sancho in the English National Opera’s production of Man of La Mancha, alongside Kelsey Grammar and Nicholas Lyndhurst.
Peter briefly entered the world of politics by joining the Green Party and running in a local election in Muswell Hill.
He campaigned for the return of the elgin marbles to their native home in Greece.
In the early 1800s, Lord Elgin took these sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens, and they have been at the British Museum ever since.
Peter suggested a surprising scenario: what if, two centuries ago, sections of Stonehenge were secretly moved to France and later appeared in the Louvre Museum as part of an exhibit?
People in Britain would be very upset, and that’s exactly what happened when Lord Elgin took the sculptures from the Parthenon in Athens – now known as the Parthenon Marbles.
Outside of his professional life, Peter enjoys playing cricket for the well-known Lord’s Taverners, where he’s a wicketkeeper.
Matt Willis
Most people remember Matt as a member of the band Busted, but he also had a role in the 2014 reboot of a popular show, playing Linda’s son, Gareth Stubbs.
Oh my gosh, when Matt got the part of Garthy on Birds of a Feather, he was absolutely thrilled! He actually told everyone how he grew up watching the show, so it was literally a dream come true for him. He was so excited to be working with Sharon, Tracey and Dorien – can you imagine?! I was screaming when I heard the news, honestly. It’s perfect casting!
Before appearing on the show, Matt first became famous as a member of the band Busted, alongside Charlie Simpson and James Bourne.
The band has broken up and gotten back together several times. They first split in 2005 when Matt decided to pursue a solo career and released his first album.
In 2015, Busted reunited for a 13-date tour and released their third studio album, Night Driver. They followed that up with another album called Night Driver in 2019.
Later that year the band announced a hiatus to focus on solo projects.
He later teamed up with a former member of Busted, James Bourne, and the band McFly, creating a new supergroup called McBusted.
He won I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! in 2006.
Alongside his wife, Emma Willis, Matt recently hosted the UK version of Netflix’s Love is Blind.
Married in 2008, the couple have three children: Isabelle, who is 15, Ace, 12, and Trixie, 8.
Matt has publicly discussed his struggles with drug addiction. He first sought treatment in 2003 and later spent three weeks at the Priory Hospital in London in 2005, when he was 21 years old, to address these issues.
In June 2008, at the age of 25, Willis went to rehab after his wife, Emma, threatened to end their marriage if he didn’t get help.
Linda Robson
While taking a break from the sitcom, Linda built a successful career in television, but her life has also faced significant hardship and loss.
I’ve been hearing a lot lately about a truly brave actress, and she’s really opening up about a very difficult time in her life. At 65, she’s dealing with the grief of losing a close friend to murder, and on top of that, she’s shared some incredibly personal struggles her son is going through, including self-harm and financial difficulties. It’s also been a tough period for her personally, as she’s recently separated from her husband. It’s a lot to handle, and I commend her for speaking out and showing vulnerability.
When the show Birds of a Feather finished, Linda found herself in significant debt because she’d become accustomed to a more lavish lifestyle during its run.
The TV star confessed to losing sleep over money problems and revealed in a 2017 interview that she came close to having a nervous breakdown.
She explained that after ‘Birds of a Feather’ finished, she’d accumulated a lot of debt. She admitted she was accustomed to a comfortable income and enjoyed spending money, which led to her avoiding bank statements.
As a lifestyle expert, I often see financial transparency strengthening relationships, and that’s exactly what happened with Linda and her now ex-husband, Mark. When Linda shared her money worries with him, Mark stepped up and helped her tackle some of her debts. It’s a reminder that open communication about finances can really make a difference, even if things don’t work out long-term.
After 33 years of marriage, the couple announced their separation in November 2023, stating that while they shared many happy times together, they had reached a point where it was time to move on.
Linda has recently announced she is single and has successfully paid off her debts. She previously shared that her children manage her money.
She has shared in the past how her son, Louis, struggled with self-harm and depression following the tragic murder of his close friend, Ben Kinsella.
She remembered being very worried about their teenage son when they discovered he was hurting himself and wouldn’t come out of his room.
In 2008, Louis held Ben, who was only 16 years old, as he died from eleven stab wounds received outside a bar in north London.
Linda shared on Loose Women that Louis eventually sought help for his mental health at a retreat and is now doing well after experiencing loss.
Following reports that a quarter of 14-year-old girls are self-harming, the panel on Loose Women shared their personal experiences with the issue.
Linda shared that Louis first began struggling with self-harm as a teenager, following the death of Ben Kinsella – the brother of EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella – ten years prior.
Besides her work on the popular BBC show, Linda is a regular panelist on the daytime talk show Loose Women. There, she and other well-known women share their views on current events and issues affecting women.
Oh my gosh, when Linda came back as Tracey for the revival in 2014, I nearly lost it! Seeing her back on screen with Pauline, playing those amazing sisters again… it was everything! Seriously, they just had to bring back that incredible sibling dynamic, and they did! It felt like the show was truly complete again with them both there.
Linda has appeared in several television shows, including “The Likely Lads,” “The Tomorrow People,” “Going Out,” “L For Lester,” and “The Bill.”
Pauline Quirke
Pauline was already somewhat known before landing her famous part on Birds of a Feather.
In addition to her other roles, the actress has been on television shows like The Tomorrow People and Play For Today, as well as in adaptations of The Story of the Treasure Seekers and Angel.
She’s recently appeared in popular shows like the ITV crime drama Broadchurch and the British-American comedy-drama miniseries, You, Me And The Apocalypse.
Pauline was in most episodes of the show, but she wasn’t in the 2020 Christmas special.
Pauline wasn’t present, so her part in the show’s theme song was cut. Photos of Tracey and Sharon appearing together were also removed.
The choices made led people to wonder if the show’s two lead actors were no longer getting along, but Linda quickly dismissed those rumors.
Following questions from fans about their long-time friendship, Linda clarified the rumors surrounding their relationship in a recent interview.
She told The Mirror that rumors of a falling out with Pauline are untrue. While they weren’t able to see each other during lockdown, they’ve since reunited.
She’s decided to stop acting for now. She’s tired of the demanding schedule and long hours. Instead, she’s focusing her energy on teaching at her drama academies, actively participating in classes and working directly with students.
The shocking murder of three young girls in Southport has impacted Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, as the perpetrator, Axel Rudakubana, was a student there.
On Monday, Rudakubana admitted guilt at Liverpool Crown Court to 16 crimes, including the murders of three children: six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice Dasilva Aguiar.
Before becoming known for his recent work, Rudakubana started his acting career as a child. He trained at a drama school established by Pauline and even appeared in a BBC Children in Need video.
The teenager who confessed to killing three young girls at a dance class celebrating Taylor Swift had previously attended the Southport location of the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts.
Founded in 2007 by the actress known for ‘Birds of a Feather,’ the PQA has grown to include around 250 academies and over 15,000 students throughout Britain.
A photo shared on Facebook shows Rudakubana accepting his ‘Performer of the Week’ award for drama in 2017.
Rudakubana was also involved in a local youth drama group, and this led to the opportunity to perform in a West End show at London’s Shaftesbury Theatre.
The drama group made a short film, and the children got to experience a real movie premiere with a red carpet walk at a Vue cinema.
In 2018, TopMob exclusively reported that he was seen stepping out of the Doctor Who time machine, the Tardis, wearing the same trenchcoat and tie made famous by actor David Tennant. He then encouraged everyone to support children’s charities by participating in fundraising events.
The appearance followed a promotional clip for BBC Children in Need, where he was introduced as a ‘superstar’ by a talent agency owned by the wife of a retired Premier League soccer player.
This week brought sad news that Pauline has been battling dementia for four years, having received the diagnosis at age 61.
On Monday, Steve Sheen announced that his wife, actress Linda Robson of ‘Birds of a Feather’, will be taking a break from work and public appearances.
According to Steve, the award-winning actress succumbed to the degenerative disease in 2021.
Steve has announced that his wife, Pauline, was diagnosed with dementia in 2021 and is stepping away from all work commitments. He said he was sharing the news with a heavy heart.
Honestly, Pauline is just incredible! I’ve been following her career for ages, and she’s always amazed me with everything she does – not just her amazing work on screen, but also how dedicated she is to giving back. And PQA? It’s brilliant! Seeing how many young performers she’s helped launch is just… inspiring. She’s a total icon, seriously!
Her exceptional talent, hard work, and inspiring vision have positively impacted many people, and will continue to do so through her lasting work and at PQA. There, she nurtured the creativity and boosted the confidence of numerous young people, helping them pursue their passion for the arts.
In February, Linda revealed Pauline ‘no longer recognises me or her children’.
She revealed she’d learned about her friend, the Birds Of A Feather star, being diagnosed with an illness three years ago, and wanted to share a recent update.
Linda shockingly revealed she’d prefer to face a cancer diagnosis over dementia, explaining that cancer at least offers a possibility of recovery.
Linda shared with The Sun at the V Choice Awards that she was deeply saddened by the news. She and her friend have been close since childhood, and Linda had known about the diagnosis for three years, but they had kept it private.
She has no idea who anyone is, not even me or her own children. It’s heartbreaking to watch her struggle with dementia – I honestly think I’d rather face cancer, because at least there’s a possibility of getting better.
Linda also revealed to TopMob she had been privately supporting Pauline by phoning her.
She said she had spoken to Pauline on FaceTime but there was ‘not much conversation’.
She explained that simply seeing her loved one on video call is enough to brighten her day. ‘I’ve been FaceTiming,’ she said, ‘and even though we don’t talk much, it’s just good to see her face.’
Linda mentioned that people have been very sympathetic when she talks about Pauline, often saying they’re sorry for her loss.
She shared that she plans to visit her soon, explaining that she’s currently well cared for with family. She hopes to travel to see her next week.
Lesley Joseph
One of Lesley’s most memorable roles was as Dorien Green on the show.
More than twenty years after starting her television career, she landed the role of Dorien, a playful neighbor known for having relationships with younger men.
Throughout her career, Lesley has been in several popular TV series, including Minder, Ruth Rendall Mysteries, Night and Day, and The Secret of Eel Island.
She’s performed in several UK stage productions, including roles in “Thoroughly Modern Millie,” “Calendar Girls,” “Annie,” and “Young Frankenstein.”
In 2016, Lesley joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing and danced with Anton du Beke.
The dancing couple left the series in week five.
Lesley generally prefers to keep her private life private, though she has spoken before about the sadness she felt after her mother passed away.
She shared with the Mirror in 2016 that losing a mother is uniquely painful, whether it happens when you’re young or old. When a mother dies young, you miss having her as you grow up. But when they pass later in life, you grieve the loss of a lifelong presence.
My mother and I were very close. She came from a large family – she was one of twelve children – and she was the last one to pass away. Even now, I feel like I talk to her every day, just in my thoughts.
You know, my mother always had this incredible zest for life – a real eagerness to experience everything. It was such a defining part of who she was. And honestly, I really hope I’ve inherited that from her – fingers crossed, I think I might have her genes!
Nickolas Grace
Nickolas portrayed Marcus, Dorien’s husband, in the series. Their marriage was marked by Dorien’s repeated infidelity, and this continued until the seventh season.
The character was removed from the show after unexpectedly leaving Dorien to start a new life with his mistress and their children.
Before being on this show, Nickolas was already known for his roles in the 1980s TV series Robin of Sherwood and Brideshead Revisited.
Following the show, he appeared in several episodes of the TV series My Family and played Albert Einstein in a Doctor Who episode titled ‘Death is the Only Answer’.
He also recorded for a number of Doctor Who audiobooks.
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