ITV orders its third series

Birds Of A Feather has been renewed for another series.

The new run will be the 12th in total and the third since ITV revived it last year.

It has proved one of the biggest comedy hits for the network, with consolidated audiences (counting catch-up views seven days after broadcast) topping five million.

Eight more episodes have been commissioned from producers Retort and QuirkyMedia Stuff – although details of a transmission date have not yet been revealed.

ITV’s comedy commissioner Saskia Schuster said: ‘Birds of a Feather has a large and loyal audience and we’re really pleased to be bringing it back, a new series starts shooting later this year.’

Original writers Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran said: ‘We’re thrilled that a nation is still in love with Sharon, Tracey and Dorien and delighted that ITV loves them too.’

Pauline Quirke, Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph will all be returning, more than 25 years after the series first began on BBC One.

Published: 11 Mar 2015