Lesley Joseph as Dorien
Lesley Joseph says returning to the role of Dorien Green in 'Birds of a Feather' hasn't been easy.
The 68-year-old actress admits the worst thing about reprising her part as the glamorpuss in the sitcom, 15 years after the last series aired, is having to spend at least two more hours in hair and make-up getting dolled up than her co-stars Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, as well as losing weight so she can show off her figure in miniskirts.
She told The Sun newspaper: "I had to lose a bit of weight and tone up. It took a lot of work. But the main thing was putting the shoes on and the nails. Dorien has a special walk, she just sort of trots.
"I choose Dorien's outfits. We all do because we know our characters so well. Mine is the easiest because there is not much of it! It's short leather skirts and high-heeled Louboutins!
"Dorien's not toned down at all. I'd like to say she's grown old gracefully but she still wears the short skirts!"
The actress has found returning to the programme a "fantastic" experience, despite her initial nerves, and is pleased it has been a hit with the public, with more than eight million fans tuning in for its grand return.
Lesley said: "It's been fantastic, wonderful, like we've never been away. I won't say it was without its stresses, you think, 'Oh my God can I still do it?' But it was fantastic and the reaction from the audiences was wonderful."
Pauline added: "When we started it was like those 15 years had just been a long weekend off..."
Tagged in Pauline Quirke Linda Robson Lesley Joseph