Birds of a Feather sitcom to return - on ITV

The show ran for nine seasons between 1989 and 1998

Hit sitcom Birds Of A Feather is to return to TV after 15 years but will appear on ITV, which has signed up the original BBC cast and writers.

It stars Pauline Quirke and Linda Robson as sisters sharing an Essex home while their husbands are in prison, with Lesley Joseph playing their lusty neighbour, Dorien Green.

It will be written by creators of the show Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran.

An ITV spokeswoman said they were "really excited" about the show.

"We can confirm that we have commissioned a new series of Birds Of A Feather ," she said. "We're really excited to be welcoming Sharon, Tracey and Dorien to ITV. We will confirm more details in due course."

The BBC confirmed it was offered the show and had said it would broadcast a one-off special, but the show's producers took up ITV's offer of a series instead.

The show's three stars, who reunited last year for a stage version, will film eight episodes later this year.

Robson, who appeared on Tuesday's edition of daytime chat show Loose Women on ITV, said: "I've had to keep quiet about it for a while," adding that on the back of the success of the tour they would "start in September".

Birds of a Feather was first screened in 1989 and clocked up nine seasons, with its last episode shown on television in 1998.