Birds of a Feather

Auntie Vera nominates Tracey to inherit the Pearly Queen title, but when Sharon discovers the nomination she strives to outshine her sister and claim the role for herself. The show, titled The Girls with the Pearl Buttons, stars Pauline Quirke.

The Girls with the Pearl Buttons is a television programme formatted as a single episode. Classified under the genre of episode, it follows the conventions of a self‑contained story within a larger series framework. The title hints at a focus on characters linked by a shared motif involving pearl buttons. The format delivers a concise storyline that fits within the episode structure, letting viewers follow the events in a single sitting. In the centre of the narrative, Tracey receives a nomination from her aunt, Auntie Vera, to assume the position of Pearly Queen. This appointment sets the stage for a family contest when Sharon, upon discovering the nomination, decides to challenge her sister. Her aim is to out‑perform Tracey and claim the role for herself. The episode features the performance of Pauline Quirke, who appears as a principal cast member. Her involvement adds a recognised presence to the storyline, anchoring the interactions between the two sisters and the aunt who initiates the succession. The plot therefore revolves around the rivalry sparked by the Pearly Queen title, with both sisters striving to demonstrate superiority. The tension between Tracey’s official nomination and Sharon’s ambition drives the episode’s action, highlighting the dynamics of familial competition within the brief, focused format of the programme.