Their first trip abroad in almost 20 years

Birds Of A Feather is to shoot an hour-long Christmas special overseas.

Producers are staying tight-lipped about where the characters will head for the extended episode, saying only that it will involve ‘sunnier places they’ve never been before, far from the comforts of Chigwell’.

The show, starring Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph, has previously decamped to the USA, Berlin and Ireland for specials, but this will be the first foreign trip in nearly 20 years.

Show creators Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran said: ‘We’re delighted and excited to be embarking on a new adventure with these three incomparable characters. We don’t want to give away too many secrets, but we promise the ITV audience a rollicking Christmas adventure.”

And Robson added: ‘Thank God it’s official, us birds are all going to be doing an hour long Christmas special not in Essex but we’re filming abroad for the first time in nearly 20 years. I’m so excited, the storyline is brilliant and we’re all so looking forward to Shal, Trace and For going on an amazing adventure.’

Lesley Joseph said “I’m very excited to be flying abroad again with the birds for a Christmas special. I can only imagine the capers we’re going to get up to, I can’t wait to put the nails back on and create havoc wherever we land. Seriously though, I couldn’t be happier to be working with two of my favourite people in the whole world.'

The episode will be written by Marks and Gran with their regular team of Gary Lawson and John Phelps.

Birds Of A Feather was revived by ITV in 2014 after a 15-year absence from its former home at the BBC, where it began in 1989.

Published: 13 Jul 2016