One of television’s best-known Jewish characters is set to return after a gap of 15 years.

Dorien Green, the man-eating Chigwell divorcee, played by Lesley Joseph, is back in a new series of the sitcom Birds Of A Feather, last seen on TV screens in the late ’90s.

Ms Joseph, who is Jewish, said she is “delighted” to be playing the role again.

“What is nice about Dorien is you don’t get many Jewish women characters played on TV. She is one of few. She is funny, and that humour is part of Jewish culture.”

Dorien is still living next door to the sisters played by co-stars, Linda Robson and Pauline Quirke, but she now a wealthy novelist, specialising in Fifty Shades of Grey-style erotic fiction.

“People identify with all three women; it is about friendships, and relationships,” said Ms Joseph.

Jewish comedy writers, Laurence Marks and Maurice Gran, who wrote the original series, have injected “more pathos into the story lines” particularly when it comes to Dorien, said to Ms Joseph.

“My character has the same comedy, but she is much more aware of the fact she has no children, and there is real emotion that comes with that.” The series begins on ITV on January 2.