The cast of Birds of a Feather. All spoilers are unmarked.
open/close all folders
The Birds
Tracey Stubbs
Once living in the lap of luxury with a much loved husband and son, Tracey's life was flipped upside-down when her husband is convicted of robbery and put in jail. Now she struggles to cope whilst living with her previously seldom-seen sister Sharon. Over time though, she becomes more willing to stand up for herself and gets a job. Played by Linda Robson.
- Character Development: Becomes more willing to stand up for herself and be independent as the series goes on, to the point that it gets acknowledged in "Three Up, Two Down"Dorien: Well, people change. Living with you can't be easy, Sharon.
- Dumb Blonde: The most blonde-haired of the three women (to the point that it's an actual plot point in "Blonde on Blonde") and also the one most prone to getting facts and figures of speech mixed up.
- Fat and Skinny: She's the skinny to Sharon's fat.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The responsible to Sharon's foolish, especially in later series where she's shown to at least be careful with her choices. That said, she can have her moments.
- Happily Married: With Darryl at first, although their relationship deteriorates over the series.
- Housewife: At first didn't hold a job, which makes it more difficult for her to cope when the breadwinner of the house, Darryl, is put in jail. Later series have her start holding down jobs, however.
- Identical Stranger: "Hearts for Sale" reveals that she has one in the form of Jan, the wife of her boss Robin.
- I Will Wait for You: Is at first willing to wait out the 12-year stretch necessary for her husband to get out of prison and usually feels very guilty when she does have feelings for other men. This isn't the case after Darryl is incarcerated a second time however.
- New Job Episode: On top of her longer-term jobs, there are several episodes where she holds a job only to lose it at the end. These include:
- An interior decorating business with Dorien ("A Brush with the Law")
- A coach for the Little League Football Team ("The Beautiful Game")
- An agony aunt for The Robbie Vincent Show ("First Time Caller")
- A croupier in a casino ("Reservoir Birds")
- Nice, Mean, and In-Between: She's the nice to Sharon's in-between and Dorien's mean - although she has her moments, she usually tries to stop the others from their scheming.
- Rich Sibling, Poor Sibling: She's the rich sibling to Sharon's poor, living in a Big Fancy House whilst her sister has to make do with a council flat.
- Sleeping with the Boss: Falls into a brief relationship with Robin, her boss, in Series 10. Too bad that his love for her comes more out of a desire to replace his runaway wife...
- Took a Level in Jerkass: From Series 7 to 9, she acts a lot harsher than she previously did, starting with her being way too happy with kicking her sister out despite the years of bonding that they've had. "Ghost" suggests that at least some of it is a case of Pregnancy Makes You Crazy.
Sharon Theodopolopodous
Once living a crappy life in a council flat and with a loser husband, Sharon's life was changed for the better when her husband was put into jail. Now she spends her days lounging around the house and worrying that she'll be kicked out by Tracey. Played by Pauline Quirke.
- Abortion Fallout Drama: Has an abortion in "Women's Troubles" that isn't Played for Laughs. Additionally, Series 7 shows that she still wonders what might have been with the child.
- Awful Wedded Life: With Chris until he was put in jail - it's why she would much prefer it for him never to be let out again.
- Big Eater: Eats the most out of the three girls, which probably contributes to at least some of her weight.
- Birthday Episode: In "Thirty Something", where she hits 30 and begins to experience angst from it.
- Diet Episode: In "Can't Judge a Book", Sharon is told by her doctor that she is overweight and makes a bet with Tracey that she can lose weight enough that she can fit in her old wedding dress by the end of the month. She is successful, although not without difficulty.
- Fat and Skinny: The fat to Tracey's skinny.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: The foolish to Tracey's responsible, being a lot more reckless with her life choices and money than her sister.
- Freudian Excuse: "Baggage" provides an explanation for her eating - when she was at school, she used to be stuffed into trashcans by Margie, so she stuffs herself to ensure that it would never happen again.
- Happily Ever After: Although she doesn't show up on-screen, the final episode of the series reveals that she has married a guy on the ship that she is currently being forcefully quarantined in.
- Mirror Character:
- Much like her, Lisa in "Thirty Something" has a husband in jail, lived in a council flat, is of a similar age, and has no job at the minute.
- Trish in "Old Friends" once Sharon bonds with her, having had a crap marriage like her. It gets to the point that Tracey complains that it's like having two Sharons in the house.
- Josie in "Can't Judge a Book" - they're both somewhat overweight, Chris has been in love with both of them and they even look somewhat alike.
- Nice, Mean, and In-Between: The in-between to Tracey's nice and Dorien's mean - she has more of a moral code than Dorien, but is perfectly willing to do schemes.
- Obnoxious In-Laws: Darryl considers her to be one, trying to get her kicked out of their house. He even has her face on a punching bag.
- Overly Long Name: It's a minor Running Gag that no-one can pronounce or remember her last name because of how long it is.
- Rich Sibling, Poor Sibling: The poor to Tracey's rich, having to cope with having to live in a council flat whilst her sister lives in a Big Fancy House.
- Sweet Tooth: She has a tendency for sweet foods such as deep-fried Mars Bars, which gets deconstructed in "The Essex Patient" when she falls ill from her diet and starts fainting everywhere.
- Written-In Absence: Her absence in "We Gotta Get Out of This Place" is explained as her having been quarantined on a cruise ship during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dorien Green
The girls' neighbour who is always snooping around the place, doesn't have very high standards and will have sex with any man in her way under the nose of her husband Marcus. Played by Lesley Joseph.
- Birthday Episode:
- "Nuptials" takes place on her 50th birthday and has her try to kill herself believing that it's all downhill from here.
- In "Forever Young", the girls realize that her 70th birthday is coming up and try to host a Surprise Party for her.
- Driven to Suicide: In "Nuptials", where she tries to take an overdose of pills. Thankfully, she took the wrong ones.
- Identical Stranger: "Three Up, Two Down" features one in a quick gag explaining why the sisters chose not to move into a particular house.
- Idle Rich: Would rather laze around all day than do anything remotely resembling work, although she will hold a job from time to time if she is absolutely forced into doing so.
- It's All About Me: She's more interested in herself than the issues of other people.
Dorien: Oh? Off on holiday?
Sharon: No we're not, actually.
Tracey: We carn afford it.
Dorien: What a pity, anyway onto me.
- Jewish American Princess: A middle-aged Jewish divorcee who acts as if she is still in her twenties, has a sense of entitlement a mile high, and sees the other two women as a combination of personal servants and people who are there to make her life easier. She refuses to scale down her expectations and believes the world is there to meet her demands. In short, Dorien is a middle-aged British JAP who has never grown up.
- Mrs. Robinson: Had a toyboy in the first two series and has been shown to be willing to bed teenagers, despite herself being in her 40s.
- Nice, Mean, and In-Between: The mean to Sharon's in-between and Tracey's nice, usually having nothing but mean remarks for people and caring only for herself.
- Nosy Neighbour: During the BBC run, she will casually let herself in so that she can hear the latest gossip from her neighbours.
- Out of Focus: She's largely absent in supplementary material, such as the 1996 Royal Variety Performance and the French and Saunders crossover sketch for Comic Relief.
- Plastic Bitch: Regularly undergoes plastic surgery (to the point that she once commented that they could make a mini-her from the leftovers in "Nearest and Dearest") and is quite a git.
- Plucky Comic Relief: Largely created as a way to relieve the more dramatic set-up of the show, she is the one of the trio most likely to be Played for Laughs.
- Really Gets Around: Has probably had sex with everyone in Chigwell at this point, all under the nose of her husband.
- Rich Bitch: Her jerkish behaviour is usually complemented by oodles of cash, mainly from her husband.
- Sitcom Archnemesis: Has one in Melanie Fishman, regularly trying to one-up her.
- Vocal Evolution: Her voice has gotten notably raspier in age come the ITV revival.
The Relatives
Darryl Stubbs
Tracey's first husband, who apparently has turned to a life of crime to finance their wealthy lifestyle. Tracey loyally waits for him... until he gets himself put in jail again after being free early. Played by Alun Lewis from Series 1-6 and by Douglas Mc Ferran in Series 7.
- Disappeared Dad:
- Put into jail during Garth's teenage years, "In At the Deep End" has a sub-plot of Garth trying to reconnect with him in a bid under the belief that it's a lack of contact with him that is leading to his aimlessness in life.
- He manages to be the same to Travis - he breaks down in "Three's Company" upon realizing that he will miss a lot of his childhood and "Knocking on Heaven's Door" reveals that he's seen Travis so little that Travis doesn't have any strong feelings over the fact that his father has died.
- Disney Villain Death: Dies in "Knocking on Heaven's Door" courtesy of him falling through a warehouse roof in the middle of a robbery.
- Driven to Suicide: Attempts to kill himself in "Never the Twain" under the belief that his family doesn't love him. Luckily, he's saved.
- The Ghost: After Series 7, he's often mentioned but never seen.
- Happily Married: With Tracey, until his second incarceration.
- Killed Offscreen: His death plays a major role in "Knocking on Heaven's Door", but is never depicted.
- Loser Son of Loser Dad: According to "The Beautiful Game" he saw his father as a loser and tried to not be a loser. Considering the fact that he's saying this whilst in prison, one could definitely say he failed in this regard.
- Out of Focus: After playing a major role in the first seven series, he stops appearing altogether and becomes The Ghost until his death in Series 12.
Chris Theodopolopodous
Sharon's loser husband, a North Londoner of Greek Cypriot extraction, who is convicted of robbery alongside Darryl. Despite his attempts to get back together with Sharon, she would rather see him rot. Played by David Cardy in Series 1, 7-8, and 10, and Peter Polycarpou from Series 2-6.
- Awful Wedded Life: With Sharon, until he gets put to jail.
- Jerkass: A twat who spends most of his time complaining about Sharon and treating her like garbage.
- Out of Focus: After playing a major role in the first 7 series, his appearances afterward amount to guest roles in two episodes ("Can't Judge a Book" and "Blinded By Love" respectively).
- Really Gets Around: Has probably had sex with all the women near Sharon's original flat.
- Reformed Criminal: Unlike Darryl, he is more successful in sticking to the right side of the law after being released from prison. In Series 7, he actually manages to impress Sharon by getting a job as a pizza-delivery guy and only went back to jail for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In his one appearance in the revival, it's shown that whilst he's still a Jerkass, he's working an honest living as a carpenter.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Subverted in "Out" when it seems as if he's making an honest attempt at being a kinder human and husband to Sharon. Then he hits on the visitation worker and it's revealed that he's still a scumbag.
Marcus Green
Dorien's rarely-seen accountant husband who until Series 7 was unaware that his wife is cheating on him. Played by Stephen Greif in Series 2, and by Nickolas Grace the rest of the time.
- Ancestral Name: "Porridge" reveals that he has a baby son named after him.
- The Ghost: He's mentioned a lot, but his actual appearances could be counted on one hand.
- Hypocrite: Despite his history of affairs (one of which Dorien actively forgave him for), he throws Dorien out of her house for cheating on him in "Relative Strangers". Especially notable considering the affair he himself was running at the time of his finding out.
- Internal Reveal: Although the audience has been aware of Dorien's affairs since the beginning, he only finds out at the end of "Cheers" after he walks in on one of them.
- Offscreen Breakup: Last we hear of Marcus in the BBC run, he's in a loving relationship with a woman named Geraldine. The Series 10 episode "Blinded by Love" however has Dorien mention him marrying a woman named Wendy, with no mention of Geraldine.
- Out with a Bang: Has a heart attack and almost dies whilst having sex with Chanel in "Still Waters Run Deep".
- Secret Other Family: Series 7 reveals that he has a family which he had been keeping hidden from Dorien in the form of Geraldine and their children.
Garth Stubbs
Tracey's first son, a teenager at boarding school who eventually decides to pursue a career in cooking. Played by Simon Nash in Series 1, Matthew Savage from Series 2-9, Matt Willis in Series 10, and Samuel James from Series 11-12.
- Ascended Extra: Originally went from one appearance in Series 1 to appearing in most episodes of the ITV run.
- Happy Ending Override: Series 10 ends with him happy in a relationship and successfully running a restaurant. The subsequent Christmas Special reveals that his girlfriend had subsequently left him, whilst the opening episode of Series 11 reveals that the restaurant failed off-screen.
- Mistaken for Gay: "Young Guns" revolves around the girls thinking that he has gotten into a relationship with another boy named Richard. Well, until Dorien beds Richard and confirms that he at least isn't gay.
- Offscreen Breakup: Really doesn't have the best luck with women:
- The BBC run ends with him getting married to Kimberly and a baby on the way, but the ITV run makes no mention of either her or the baby, with him now being in a different relationship.
- The first series of the ITV run has him with a new woman named Marcie and her daughter, Poppy. However, come the next Christmas Special, it's revealed that she left him and went back to Australia off-screen.
- Supreme Chef: He has been praised for his cooking, especially once he takes it up as a career path.
- Took a Level in Dumbass: Becomes more willing to get into idiotic schemes in Series 11, to the point that Tracey is unwilling to give him the house if she dies. More generally, he definitely comes across as a lot dimmer during the ITV revival than in the original BBC series.
- Wedding Episode: In "Nuptials", which is focused on his wedding to Kimberly.
Travis Stubbs
Tracey's second son, born at the end of the BBC run. Played by an unknown extra in "Holy Ground" and by Charlie Quirke during the ITV run.
- Bratty Teenage Son: Acts quite huffy in "Guess Who's Coming to Essex?", which is why Tracey packs a pink frill with him in a bid to teach him a lesson.
- Last Episode, New Character: Wasn't born until the very end of the BBC run in "Holy Ground".
- Mama's Baby, Papa's Maybe: Tracey wasn't quite sure whether his father is Darryl or not, although Series 9 onwards went with the idea that he is.
- Named by the Adaptation: He wasn't given a name until the 2012 stage adaptation, which stuck when the show was revived 2 years later.
- Their First Time: After a decent amount of jokes about how he's a virgin, "Abandoned Love" has him lose it with Dorien's granddaughter.
