[RichardWells]

Pauline Quirke has confirmed that she will be leaving Emmerdale at the end of her current contract.

The actress will bow out from her role as Hazel Rhodes on the ITV1 soap at the end of the year, before starting work on a stage version of classic sitcom Birds of a Feather in 2012.

Speaking to What's On TV about her Emmerdale future, Quirke explained: "They very kindly asked me to stay on until Christmas. And then next year I'm going to be doing a tour of Birds of a Feather - we're going to bring Birds of a Feather back to the stage!

"We thought it was about time we resurrected us three old girls, so we'll be doing a tour next spring. But I'm certainly going to be on the Woolpack steps until this Christmas."

An Emmerdale spokesperson told DS today: "Pauline was originally due to appear for a year but extended her contract to the end of 2011, so there are many months of drama to come involving Hazel."

Hazel is currently involved in an assisted suicide storyline on screen as she recently told her son Jackson that she would help him to die. Jackson has repeatedly stated that he no longer wants to live due to his paralysis.

Quirke starred in Birds of a Feather alongside Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph between 1989 and 1998.

[Marsh.]

Birds of a Feather's coming back?

[RichardWells]

Only on stage I think.

[Kerry]

Awwwwww

[joeysteele]

I didn't rate her when she first came to Emmerdale but she has really grown in the part, sad to see her go now.

[Rob]

Shame, i like her

[Callum]

Will be a real loss to the show when she goes. I don't watch it anymore but Pauline Quirke was always brilliant in any scenes she featured in.

[Scarlett.]

She's been great in the Jackson storyline

[Kerry]

I don't suppose she could stay after Jackson

[LaLaLand]

They should do a TV special of BOAF, bloody brilliant it was!

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by Jonnii

They should do a TV special of BOAF, bloody brilliant it was!

I loved it but I'm always wary when they try to bring old shows back

[Benjamin]

Is Birds of A Feather coming back to TV?

[LaLaLand]

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

I loved it but I'm always wary when they try to bring old shows back

I am also but a one-off can't hurt can it?

Originally Posted by ukturtle

Is Birds of A Feather coming back to TV?

No, just stage I assume. A touring stage show.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

I loved it but I'm always wary when they try to bring old shows back

Me too, I don't think it would work.

[Kerry]

Originally Posted by joeysteele

Me too, I don't think it would work.

Red Dwarf for me was the worst. I adored it years ago but when they tried to bring it back I could have cried. It was dreadful!