TV’S Birds of a Feather for festive special

BIRDS of a Feather is to return to the small screen for a Christmas special – but without Pauline Quirke.

The star, who shot to fame as Sharon in the classic sitcom, is stepping back from acting to focus on her performing arts academies, ITV said.

The much-loved show – a huge hit in the Nineties – was revived by ITV in 2014, and last aired in December 2017.

ITV’S director of television, Kevin Lygo, was later quoted as saying it had come to a “natural end”.

But it will now be back for the first time in three years for a one-off extended Christmas episode.