Dawn French records three new sermons for BBC One

Dawn French is to reprise her role as Geraldine Grainger, with three new lockdown mini-episodes of The Vicar Of Dibley this Christmas.

The three ten-minute shorts will be based on  monthly sermons the Reverend has been delivering to her parishioners via Zoom… ‘when she can make it work’ and will air after repeat showings of classic episodes of the sitcom on BBC One. 

French said: ‘Back in the dog collar, back in Dibley and back on your telly at Christmas. I couldn’t be happier. Bless you.’

And creator Richard Curtis added: ‘Like every village in the country, there’s been a lot happening in Dibley this year - and Dawn has got a lot to say about it.’

James Fleet will also return as Hugo Horton, along while the show will pay tribute to  Alice Tinker, as played by the late Emma Chambers. The BBC says her character ‘is still an important presence in the village, with some residents still looking for lost buttons and the arrival of decimalisation

Shane Allen, the BBC’s controller of comedy commissioning said: ‘This triple festive treat from the nations favourite fun-loving vicar is the warm comedy hug we’ve all missed.’

The three 10-minute episodes will air weekly, with a half-hour compilation episode of all three sermons airing later.

Made by: Tiger Aspect Production
Written by: Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer
Produced by: Jon Plowman
Commissioned by: Charlotte Moore, the BBC’s chief content officer, and Shane Allen, controller of comedy commissioning. Commissioning Editor for the BBC: Ben Caudell

Published: 17 Nov 2020