LESLEY Joseph confirms the revived sitcom Birds Of A Feather will return for a second series.

“It took ITV 15 minutes to say ‘yes’ to the first series when the BBC only wanted to do a Christmas special, and now they have agreed to another series,” says Lesley, who will be in York on Monday, starring as a menopausal divorce barrister in Hot Flush!, “the naughtiest musical in town”.

“ITV have been amazing; they have really supported us and it’s been great being back together. Things have changed a lot on TV since we first did the show, because of shows like The Royle Family and The Office, but with Mrs Brown’s Boys, there’s been a return to family sitcom and there was a feeling that there was space for Birds to be back on as it’s very much family viewing.”

She is forever grateful that “Birds” caught on with the public, not least her role as interfering neighbour Dorien Green. “There was something about right time, right place, and the right part for you,” Lesley says. “Birds was also very akin to a soap opera and people wanted us in their sitting rooms. They really bought into it.”

Tickets for Monday’s 7.30pm performance of Hot Flush! are on sale on 0844 871 3024 or at atgtickets.com/york