'Birds of a Feather' is coming back for a Christmas special - but without Pauline Quirke, because she wants to "give up acting".
(L-R) Pauline Quirke, Lesley Joseph, Linda Robson
Linda Robson has confirmed the ITV sitcom will return for a festive special, with the episode already in the can, but her and Lesley Joseph's co-star Pauline will not be back for the ep because she is giving up acting to concentrate on her acting academy, according to her pal.
Speaking on 'Loose Women', Linda said: "'Birds of a Feather' is coming back for a Christmas special. We're delighted.
"They repeated the last few series during lockdown and it did really well in the ratings, and ITV asked us if we would come back.
"We've finished filming the Christmas special. We finished yesterday. We were in lockdown in a bubble in a hotel in Hertfordshire. It's so funny.
"Pauline couldn't do it. She doesn't want to do it this year. She wants to give up acting and just wants to carry on with her acting academy.
"We really missed her, but it's her choice."
Linda - who plays Tracey Stubbs in the series - revealed Pauline's character Sharon Theodopolopodous will be "stuck on a cruise ship in Costa Rica, because of the Covid" in the festive episode's storyline to explain the actress' absence.
Les Dennis and Ami Metcalf will star in the episode, which will see Tracey and Dorien Green (Lesley) in lockdown amid the pandemic.
Linda added: "We are in lockdown during Covid. Me and Dorien are there.
"Dorien now owns the house, so there is a lot of trouble there because she thinks I'm her skivvy.
"Tracey has got OCD, a bit like Linda - we're the same person.
"She [Dorien] has to stay over one side [of the house] and I [Tracey] have to stay over the other."
Tagged in Pauline Quirke Linda Robson Lesley Joseph