Dawn French reviving 'Vicar of Dibley' for Big Night In

Amy Johnson
·Contributor
·2 min read
Dawn French is bringing back The Vicar of Dibley's Geraldine. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Dawn French is bringing back The Vicar of Dibley's Geraldine. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Vicar of Dibley fans' prayers are being answered as Dawn French has revealed she's reviving the beloved Reverend Geraldine Kennedy - nee Granger - for The Big Night In TV fundraiser.

The character was last seen five years ago back in 2015 for a Comic Relief short special but will now be delivering a "message of hope" at the event.

"I’m back in the dog collar, back in the vicarage and back on your telly. Be there or go to hell. Literally I have some sway," French said.

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She also teased the news on her Twitter page as she shared a close-up of a cross around a neck adorned with a dog collar.

The comedian captioned the photo: "Hmmm. Somethin interestin this way comes....Thurs ⁦@BBCOne. 7-10pm #BigNightIn."

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The Big Night In will see charities Children in Need and Comic Relief come together to raise money to provide support during the coronavirus pandemic as it provides a variety of entertainment for viewers at home.

Little Britain is also returning to TV for the first time in over a decade, and comedians Peter Kay and Catherine Tate will also be putting in appearances.

Paddy McGuinness, Zoe Ball and Davina McCall are among the hosts of the show.

The Big Night In is bringing Comic Relief and Children in Need together to raise funds. (BBC)
The Big Night In is bringing Comic Relief and Children in Need together to raise funds. (BBC)

The Vicar of Dibley ran for two seasons between 1994 and 1998, and produced 10 special episodes as well as six Comic Relief offerings.

There have been some sad losses to the original cast in recent years as Frank Pickle actor John Bluthal died in November 2018 at the age of 89.

Meanwhile, Alice Tinker star Emma Chambers died suddenly in February of the same year after suffering a heart attack at the age of 53.

Roger Lloyd-Pack who played Owen Newitt died at the age of 69 in 2014 while Letitia Cropley actor Liz Smith, whose character died in the 1996 Easter special, passed away in 2016 aged 96.