Birds Of A Feather creators tell story of the comedy classic in Edinburgh Fringe show

AS prolific sitcom writers Maurice Gran and Laurence Marks sat down to watch the first episode of their latest TV comedy, they had no idea of the storm heading their way.

The pair, who had already enjoyed success with Shine On Harvey Moon, Relative Strangers and The New Statesman, thought they had created a mainstream comedy in Birds Of A Feather, shown for the first time in October 1989.

So it was to their great surprise when the BBC switchboard became jammed with viewers complaining about what they’d just seen.

“It caused so much consternation after transmission,” Laurence said.

“It’s hard to believe now, because the show is so innocent in many ways.

“But these were Cockney women rather than middle-class women – or women, full-stop – talking in a certain way.

“We certainly didn’t expect to be pulled on to the Breakfast Show the next morning to defend it.

“Maurice and I were aware of the complaints from viewers, but it was only 20 years later – during lunch with the controller of BBC1 – that we learned the full story, which included the board of directors calling a meeting to discuss the show.”

Despite the complaints from a vocal minority, the show wasn’t pulled after the first episode and it went on to become one of Britain’s favourite sitcoms.

Broadcast on BBC 1 until 1998 then returning to screens on ITV in 2014 following a successful stage revival, the series about two working-class sisters, played by Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson, brought together when their husbands were sent to jail, has been a consistent ratings winner.

The early controversy the show endured is just part of the tale to be told in Maurice and Laurence’s new show, Early Birds, which is the true story behind the making of the comedy classic.

The stage play receives its premiere at the Edinburgh Fringe and Pauline Quirke unveiled the production in the capital yesterday.

Her son, Charlie, is part of the stage show, as well as playing Travis in the TV revival.

Maurice said: “Birds Of A Feather was conceived after I saw some women while I was at a fancy West End hotel with my family for lunch one Christmas.

“I thought they looked like gangsters’ molls – although they were probably innocent ladies – and a couple of weeks later I told Laurence about my observation. He said to me – ‘Linda and Pauline’.

“We had worked with them before (on Shine On Harvey Moon) and were looking to work with them again. We knew they were fantastic together.”

The show, also starring Lesley Joseph as annoying neighbour Dorien, has run for 12 series and 128 episodes – albeit with a 15-year gap.

For Early Birds, Maurice and Laurence had to write themselves in as characters.

“It was like an out-of-body experience, seeing other people playing us,” said Laurence. “It was fun to see two young, good-looking boys play us, as that has never been the case!

“Pauline was in tears when she watched the rehearsals. To see an important part of your life unfold before you is quite something.”

Childhood friends Maurice and Laurence’s other hits during a prolific 20-year period, which started in 1980, include Goodnight Sweetheart.

How did they produce so much memorable TV in that period?

“We drank an amazing amount of coffee, plus we were younger, had incredible energy and, importantly, fantastic allies,” Maurice said.

“Comedy in the ’80s and ’90s had a more important share of the TV money.

“We felt by the end of the century we had done most of what we wanted to do in TV, so we started doing stage and radio work, before we were tempted back to TV.

“We’re currently developing two or three projects and hope to get one of those on Netflix.”

But the Birds Of A Feather story isn’t over yet.

“We’re talking to ITV and, hopefully, there will be a new series to mark the 30th anniversary next year,” Maurice added.

“We also feel there is potential to do more with Early Birds. A longer version could tour around theatres plus there are a lot of TV execs in Edinburgh at this time of year, so who knows what might happen.”

Early Birds, PQA Venues @ Riddle’s Court, Edinburgh, until Aug 27 (excl 8, 15, 22) at 6pm