90s sitcom legend reveals very surprising reason why beloved comedy racked up 300 Ofcom complaints for first episode
LESLEY Joseph has revealed the very surprising reason why Birds Of A Feather’s first episode racked up 300 Ofcom complaints.
90s sitcom legend Lesley, 78, left Jo Brand stunned with the revelation when they spoke on Open The Box, the comedian’s new four-week series on Boom Radio.
She told how her co-star Pauline Quirke, 64, who played Sharon Theodopolopodous on the BBC show, had come under fire for using the mild expletive, “bloody”.
In a preview shared exclusively with The Sun, the actress explains, “There were about 300 complaints after the first episode because Pauline said ‘bloody’.
“We’re talking about 1989, so it’s a long way back but it hit the ground running. We loved working with each other. The one thing we could always do is time gags and it just really took off.”
The pair starred alongside Linda Robson, whose character was Tracey Stubbs, on the hit programme.
But we previously revealed Linda and Pauline suffered several backstage barneys on Birds Of A Feather before the Hackney-native was “snubbed” from the 2020 Christmas special.
A source close to Linda said the atmosphere on set between Pauline and the cast became more hostile.
The insider said: “The nadir came during one astonishing row at Teddington Studios, culminating in Pauline and Lesley squaring off.
“They were basically pulled apart by stunned crew members. Things went rapidly downhill from there.”
Linda explained that she and Lesley weren’t ready to stop filming despite Pauline’s being missing from the show.
Speaking out about her relationship with Pauline previously, Linda shrugged off suggestions they’d stopped speaking.
Instead she insisted Pauline was busy focusing on her work with The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts, which she set up while Birds of a Feather was off-air.
Linda said “People say Pauline and I have fallen out. Obviously I couldn’t see her during lockdown but I’ve seen her since.
“She just doesn’t want to act anymore. She’s had enough – it’s long hours.”
Birds of a Feather initially ran on BBC One from 1989 to 1998, with a reboot airing on ITV between 2014 and 2020.
- Tune in to Jo Brand’s interview with Lesley Joseph on Boom Radio on Sunday May 5th, at 9pm.
