TV series
Birds of a Feather is a British sitcom that was broadcast on BBC One from 1989 until 1998 and on ITV from 2013. 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 and Sharon Theodopolopodos 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 is a middle-aged married woman who is constantly having affairs with younger men. In the later series the location is changed to Hainault. The series ended on Christmas Eve 1998 after a 9-year-run.
Availability
Birds of a Feather premiered October 16, 1989. We don't have a confirmed streaming, rental or purchase option yet.
Birds of a Feather is a British sitcom that was broadcast on BBC One from 1989 until 1998 and on ITV from 2013. 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 and Sharon Theodopolopodos 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 is a middle-aged married woman who is constantly having affairs with younger men. In the later series the location is changed to Hainault. The series ended on Christmas Eve 1998 after a 9-year-run.
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
With the café doing great business, Sharon's in the money, but Tracey is unhappy at being a kept woman.
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by John Phelps, Gary LawsonGuest stars Pat Coombs, Charlie Caine, Luke Hanson, Mitch Jenkins, Alun Lewis, Peter Polycarpou
Episode 2
Tracey disapproves of Garth's decision to enrol at catering college.
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by Sue TeddernGuest stars Brian Protheroe, Ian Congdon, Lee Macdonald, Di Langford, Matthew Savage, Alun Lewis
Episode 3
Sharon's husband Chris wants to dump her for another woman, and take the café away from her. Meanwhile, Dorien is leaving her husband and everything she owns for the youthful charms of lusty Luke. But how will she cope in his sleazy flat in Walthamstow?
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by Sue TeddernGuest stars Rena Jugati, Peter Polycarpou
Episode 4
Sharon wants a man and submits a video tape of herself to a video dating agency. She meets laddish Mike,who takes her to a Rolling Stones concert and claims to know all the big names in rock but is exposed by Garth. Tracey thinks Sharon would be better off with shy,stammering Jimmy and organizes a meeting but she had forgotten that Dorien had also submitted a tape.
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by Miles TredinnickGuest stars Tyler Butterworth, Nicholas Pritchard, Matthew Savage
Episode 5
Auntie Sylvie,just out of hospital,comes to convalesce with Tracey and Sharon and proves to be very demanding,as well as encouraging Garth to buy a motor-bike against his mother's wishes. They consider putting her in a home but feel unable to go through with it though fortunately she has a mind of her own.
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by John Phelps, Gary LawsonGuest stars Vivian Pickles, Arbel Jones, Matthew Savage
Episode 6
Sharon has a new man in her life, Gil, and this time it could be the real thing as far as she's concerned. The only trouble is that he wants her to move to Norfolk with him and Tracey is not happy. Oddly enough though it's Chris,who is having problems in prison, who persuades her to stay.
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by Laurence Marks, Maurice GranGuest stars Jonathan Barlow, Nicola Blackman, Peter Polycarpou
Episode 7
Fed up with her slobbish Greek customers, Sharon decides to make her cafe more upmarket and orders from a Jewish caterer suggested by Dorien. She is ostracized by the entire Greek community and the cafe looks like closing until she visits a Greek Orthodox priest who saves the day for her.
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by Geoff RowleyGuest stars Joe Melia, Alun Lewis, Peter Polycarpou, Andy Lucas
Episode 8
After Darryl comments that she has put on weight Tracey goes on a diet,suffering but losing ten pounds in the process, but when she goes back to see Darryl he is now worried she looks too alluring and needs her reassurance. Dorien cannot fathom why Brett,her hunky young builder,does not want sex with her and assumes he is gay but Sharon gets to find out otherwise.
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by Geoff DeaneGuest stars Gary Cady, Amanda Richardson, Melanie Ramsay, Caroline Hunnisett, Alun Lewis, Peter Polycarpou
Episode 9
Dorien is depressed because she has reached the menopause but hormone replacement treatment soon puts the smile back on her face. Tracey is annoyed because she feels Darryl fails to give Garth sufficient praise but all is sorted out on a visit. But can Sharon and Chris' little problem, his infertility, be solved by adopting a Bulgarian orphan?
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by Geoff RowleyGuest stars Matthew Savage, Alun Lewis, Peter Polycarpou
Episode 10
Tracey's lecherous new boss is causing problems. Luckily, superwomen Sharon and Dorien are at hand.
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by Sue TeddernGuest stars Brian Capron, Debra Beaumont, Penny Brownjohn, Buddug Morgan, Jason Hall, Alun Lewis
Episode 11
Dorien's life story, complete with steamy revelations, is about to go into print, and suddenly she's got cold feet. But can she persuade Sharon to impersonate her?
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by Peter TilburyGuest stars Matthew Savage, Peter Yapp, David Simeon, Alun Lewis, Peter Polycarpou
Episode 12
Sharon and Tracey are desperate for a holiday, so a karaoke competition seems to be the ideal answer.
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by Geoff DeaneGuest stars Philip Martin Brown
Episode 13
Sharon needs eight grand up front when the landlords of her café want to increase the rent in line with her new lease. Tracey refuses to put her house up as collateral and Dorien, who has a few grand to dispose of for tax purposes, gives it to charity after Sharon insults her. Fortunately Sharon has confidence in herself as a business woman to meet the problem head on.
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by John Phelps, Gary LawsonGuest stars Alun Lewis, Peter Polycarpou
Episode 14
When the case against Darryl's associate Trevor Mimms is thrown out of court due to unreliable evidence from Inspector Tatum - who arrested Darryl and Chris - the sisters wonder if their lads might have been fitted up by Tatum and start a campaign to free the Chigwell Two. Tracey goes on daytime TV and finds a lawyer to fight the case but she comes to realise that she may be kidding herself. Dorien is unsympathetic until Marcus is arrested as a suspected drugs baron. When Trevor gets sent down for another robbery the sisters realise the truth but he does give them a Christmas bonus,as do Tatum and,after Marcus' name is cleared, Dorien.
Directed by Terry KinaneWritten by Laurence Marks, Maurice GranGuest stars Colin Mace, Nigel Humphreys, Michael Feast, Daniel Peacock, Barbara Keogh, Robert Kilroy-Silk, Jon Cartwright, Henry Webster
Episode information updated Jul 23, 2026
Available now in United States
These shows are available now and closely match Birds of a Feather.
Pauline QuirkeSharon Theodopolopodos
Linda RobsonTracey Stubbs
Charlie QuirkeTravis Stubbs
Ray WinstoneMalcolm
Eamonn WalkerColin
Jamie Foreman
Alan FordPrison Officer
BBC OneUnited Kingdom
ITV1United Kingdom
BBCUnited Kingdom
ITVUnited Kingdom
