Birds of a Feather

- Season 9

(1998)

When drawers mysteriously open and things go bump in the night, the sisters are convinced the video recorder is haunted. They consult Dorien, who holds a séance, conjuring up a spirit called Smym, and finally performing a successful exorcism - successful insofar as the video machine goes back to the shop.

At the ante-natal class Tracey meets Garth's girl-friend Kimberley, who is also pregnant. Due to a misunderstanding she and Garth have broken up but Tracey gets them back together. Dorien has split up with Richard after falling out with his daughter who, mutually, hates her. She is therefore in a position to be understanding with Tina, one of the cleaners for Maids of Ongar, who is also having man trouble which is affecting her work.

In order to get Garth a wedding present the sisters and Dorien go to a Sunday antiques market in an old warehouse, but the market has ended and they find themselves locked in for the night. Dorien finds a means of escape and comes back to let the others out . . .eventually.

Sharon is spotted by a head-hunter for an agency specialising in modelling clothes for larger women and is offered a day's photo shoot. Dorien revels in being her manager but Tracey feels frumpy and inferior. However, when Sharon's day is over Tracey takes centre stage as she has a scan to see what sex her baby is.

Garth marries his Kimberley but the wedding day is fraught. Dorien, having split up with Richard, stays away, Kimberley's snobbish mother, Lynne, is getting up Tracey's nose and the noisy relatives on the sisters' side of the family don't help either. Sharon is best man but, as she is making her speech, Richard appears. Dorien is contemplating suicide as she feels old and lonely. Fortunately the sisters and Richard persuade her that she is loved and get back to the reception in time for Tracey to put Lynne in her place and a good old-fashioned wedding punch-up to ...

Sharon and a heavily pregnant Tracey travel to Ireland, where their previously unknown uncle Declan Nolan has died and left them land, which they use to settle a local feud. They are accompanied by Dorien, who has bought a pregnant race horse in the village. The horse is due any minute but it's Tracey who gives birth in the stable, helped by the vet. The priest rings up the Vatican to report a miracle.