It became an instant hit with viewers for its female vicar, quirky cast of village characters and the gentle fun it poked at the Church of England.
Almost three decades after the first episode was aired, the Vicar of Dibley, starring Dawn French, is still a staple of Christmas specials and fundraising telethons. The Rev Geraldine Granger even made several broadcasts to the nation during lockdown.
But the archbishop of Canterbury has cast aspersions on Dibley’s vicar and other television clergy, saying they portrayed vicars as “rogues or idiots”, whereas in reality they are “hard-working, normal people, caring deeply about what they do”.
Good comments from @vahva here https://t.co/oYJ3ZUEnrq
— Madeleine Davies (@MadsDavies) November 24, 2021