Dawn French’s tears for Emma Chambers while filming Vicar Of Dibley comeback
The actress said the tribute scenes to Alice Tinker, played by Chambers, were incredibly difficult to complete
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Dawn French repeatedly broke down in tears while filming her Vicar Of Dibley comeback as she paid tribute to her late cast mate Emma Chambers as Alice Tinker.
In the show, her character Geraldine Granger speaks movingly of her friend Alice, who has died leaving her husband Hugo (James Fleet) heartbroken.
French, 63, said the scenes were incredibly tough to complete. “Along with all the silly, funny stuff, there is a moment where we pay tribute to Alice and that was not easy to film.
“Honestly, I had to do it seven times. I didn’t get through it once without tears but it’s really important to remember this is where real life and Dibley come together.”
Thanking the writers she added: “Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer have got this skill of making stuff funny and light but also being truthful and honest.”
She said she has still not been able to watch the emotional episode. Chambers, much-loved by fans as dippy blonde Alice who famously never understood Geraldine’s jokes, died in 2018 from a heart attack aged 53.
In tonight’s first of three new mini-episodes, the vicar returns to help rally the spirits of both the nation and the residents of Dibley in the pandemic.
French said she had loved filming as Geraldine again.
Speaking on Radio 2 she explained: “You know when you’ve got that lovely winter coat you haven’t worn for a long time and you put it on and it’s warm and comfortable and it suits you and it fits you and it’s gorgeous – it was like that.”
In Monday’s first instalment, the vicar is tasked with explaining the difference between metres and miles when it comes to social distancing.
- The Vicar of Dibley in Lockdown, Monday December 7, BBC1, 8.50pm
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