'Birds Of A Feather' is set to return with a new series next year.

Lesley Joseph

Lesley Joseph

Lesley Joseph - who plays mutton dressed as lamb man-eater Dorien Green in the hit sitcom - has revealed she and her co-stars Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke are in talks with ITV about doing an instalment in 2019 to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

Speaking to The Sun's Bizarre column, the 72-year-old actress said: "We are hoping to commemorate the show next year with a new series. Discussions are happening at the moment. We think it would be amazing way to celebrate, we've started a petition.

"The producers are talking about it, after we did a Christmas special last year, the popularity has stayed for 30 years. The fans are keen for it."

'Birds Of A Feather', which originally hit television screens in 1989, returned for its annual festive special last year after it was revived in 2014 by ITV.

And, although fans were desperate for it to come back on a regular basis, Linda - who plays Tracey Stubbs - recently said the trio were struggling to find the time.

She said: "At the moment, they're [Lesley and Pauline are] both really busy because Lesley is doing 'Young Frankenstein' until August.

"But ITV have asked and hopefully - please God - we'll all get the time to do another series together but at the moment it's just the Christmas specials."

Meanwhile, Linda, Lesley and Sharon - who plays Sharon Theodopolopodous in the show - have have been good friends for years and buy each other the same presents - something with birds on it - for Christmas every single year.

Linda said: "We buy the same thing for each other every year - anything with birds on - and I buy them their centre decorations for the Christmas tables ..."

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