Everything you need to know about beloved British sitcom, The Vicar of Dibley
The Vicar of Dibley follows Geraldine Grainger, a well-meaning and high-spirited vicar who gets more than she bargained for with her first assignment in an Oxfordshire village.
Following the 1993 Church of England changes that allowed women to be ordained, the parish regulars are left shocked that their new vicar is a woman – and have mixed feelings about it.
While some, like Alice Tinker, embrace Geraldine with vigour, others struggle with the culture shock as they reflect on the more traditional male role.
However, over time, Geraldine begins to win over the kooky and loving residents of Dibley over – one hilarious incident at a time.
Launching in November 1994, The Vicar of Dibley has become one of the UK’s most beloved sitcoms of all-time, winning multiple awards including a British Comedy Award, a National Television Award and being nominated for 11 Baftas during its run.
The series technically ended in 2000, but has been revived briefly during the 2020 lockdowns and for charity specials.
It is the brainchild of Richard Curtis, writer and producer behind Four Weddings and Funeral, Notting Hill and Love Actually.
Who stars in The Vicar of Dibley?
The main cast throughout the series of The Vicar of Dibley are:
Dawn French (French and Saunders, Death on the Nile) as Vicar Geraldine Grainger
James Fleet (Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Four Weddings and a Funeral) as Hugo Horton
Trevor Peacock (Neverwhere, Born and Bred) as Jim Trott
Gary Waldhorn (Brush Strokes, Escape to Victory) as David Horton
Roger Lloyd-Pack (Only Fools and Horses, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) as Owen Newitt
Emma Chambers (Notting Hill, How Do You Want Me?) as Alice Tinker
John Bluthal (The Fifth Element, Spirited) as Frank Pickle
Liz Smith (The Royle Family, Lark Rise to Candleford) as Leticia Cropley
How many episodes of The Vicar of Dibley are there?
The Vicar of Dibley ran for 20 episodes - including three series and specials.
Series one ran for six episodes, while the following two series ran for four episodes each.
Christmas and Easter specials airs in 1996, between the first two series, with a two-part Christmas special airing in 2004.
The show’s finale was a two-part special, which aired Christmas Day 2006 and New Year’s Day 2007.
However, since then there have been extra skits and specials related to the series including Comic Relief skits and three mini-episodes that aired on the BBC during the Covid lockdown in 2020.
These specials were depicted as sermons and zoom calls while the congregation were in isolation.
What is the age rating of The Vicar of Dibley?
The Vicar of Dibley’s official certification by the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) ranges from PG to 12.
This means it is largely considered family-friendly with some parental guidance, although some episodes may not be suitable for children.
Reasons for this rating include:
Jokes of an adult nature
Mild, comedic violence (all slapstick)
Some emotionally upsetting scenes
Scenes of alcohol use (for comedic effect)
Mild profane language
Crude humour including instances of toilet humour
Some sexual innuendo and inferences in jokes
How to watch The Vicar of Dibley
The Vicar of Dibley is available to watch in full now on U&Gold.
This includes the full series, plus the Christmas and Easter specials.
You can watch U&Gold programmes on Sky, and stream on NOW, completely free.