British Comedy Guide
The Vicar Of Dibley. Geraldine Grainger (Dawn French). Copyright: Tiger Aspect Productions
The Vicar Of Dibley

The Vicar Of Dibley

  • TV sitcom
  • BBC One
  • 1994 - 2020
  • 20 episodes (3 series)

Comedy about a small, backward rural village and its female vicar, Geraldine Grainger. Stars Dawn French, Emma Chambers, Gary Waldhorn, James Fleet, John Bluthal and more.

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Episode menu

Series 1, Episode 6 - Animals

Geraldine's idea of a special service to bless and celebrate animals - the focus of much of the rural village's life - is welcomed warmly by her flock, but soon finds Dibley ridiculed in the national tabloids. Could this lead to her departure from the community already?

Further details

Alice has a very worrying problem: she is concerned that I Can't Believe It's Not Butter may in fact actually be butter! But, far more gravely, as Geraldine becomes quite bemused whilst listening to Alice's philosophising, a villager drops by who is distraught by the death of her family pet. Moved by how much this lady cared for her animal friend, Geraldine decides to hold a special service for all the animals of the rural village.

Naturally, David is outraged by the idea of having an animal church service and puts it down to Geraldine being a bit wacky; in fact, he's so angry, he contacts the bishop to once again ask that Geraldine be sacked. The bishop replies that Geraldine can go ahead with it, but that it's on her own head.

When the national tabloids hear of the event, the pressure on Geraldine grows. She is made a spectacle of in a front-page article, and David is understandably furious about the ridicule his village appears to be held in. However, the service has become the talk of the village as residents are curious as to what to expect, and the newspaper coverage has created a huge amount of interest.

On the day of the service itself, traffic is backed up far out of the village. The church is packed out, and no one - not even David - is more surprised by its success than the vicar herself.

Broadcast details

Date
Thursday 15th December 1994
Time
8:30pm
Channel
BBC One
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Dawn French Geraldine Grainger
Emma Chambers Alice Tinker
Gary Waldhorn David Horton
James Fleet Hugo Horton
John Bluthal Frank Pickle
Trevor Peacock Jim Trott
Roger Lloyd Pack Owen Newitt
Liz Smith Letitia Cropley
Guest cast
Simon McBurney Cecil (Choir Master)
Max Brazier George
Jane Galloway Mrs Bartlett
Andy Greenhalgh Reporter
Moray Watson The Stranger
Writing team
Richard Curtis Writer
Emma Freud Script Editor
Production team
Dewi Humphreys Director
Jon Plowman Producer
Richard Curtis Executive Producer
Peter Bennett-Jones Executive Producer
Sue Vertue Associate Producer
Graham Carr Editor
Andrew Howe-Davies Production Designer
Howard Goodall Composer

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