Dawn French pays tribute to ‘bright spark’ Emma Chambers

Dawn French has led tributes to her former The Vicar Of Dibley co-star Emma Chambers, who has died aged 53.

The actress – who portrayed the dim but lovable Alice Tinker opposite French’s Geraldine Granger in the long-running BBC comedy – died of natural causes on Wednesday evening, her agent confirmed.

Doncaster-born Chambers also starred as Hugh Grant’s sister Honey in Richard Curtis’ Bafta-winning film Notting Hill.

One of three children, Chambers was educated at a girls’ boarding school, St Swithuns, in Winchester.

While her sister Sarah Doukas discovered Kate Moss and ran the Storm modelling agency with brother Simon, Chambers always knew she wanted to pursue a career as an actress.

French said in a statement to the Press Association: “Emma was a very bright spark and the most loyal & loving friend anyone could wish for.

“I will miss her very much.” Recalling their characters’ close friendship, French shared a photo of Alice lying on top of Geraldine in a shot from the popular series.

She wrote on Twitter: “I was regularly humped like this by the unique & beautiful spark that was Emma Chambers. I never minded. I loved her. A lot.”

Grant called news of her death “very sad”. He wrote on Twitter: “Emma Chambers was a hilarious and very warm person and of course a brilliant actress.”

The Vicar Of Dibley, also written by Curtis, originally ran from 1994 to 1998 but returned for numerous festive and comic relief specials with the latest episode airing as recently as 2015.

Curtis’ wife, broadcaster Emma Freud, was among one of the first to pay tribute to the couple’s “beautiful friend”.

She wrote on Twitter: “We’re very very sad. She was a great, great comedy performer, and a truly fine actress.

“And a tender, sweet, funny, unusual, loving human being.”

Once asked if she resembled her portrayal of the dippy Alice Tinker in real life, Chambers rejected the comparison with the words: “I’m a cynical old bitch.”

Chambers is survived by husband fellow actor Ian Dunn.

Chambers starred in The Vicar Of Dibley.