Dearly beloved

WHETHER you’ll be bright and early to church this Sunday (November 10) or warm in bed as bells sound in the distance, you might note that the day marks exactly 25 years since the first The Vicar of Dibley episode was aired. It occupied a prime place in the hearts of many Britons long after the last episode aired in 2007, from the choral undulations of Howard Goodall’s Psalm 23 to Alice’s (the late Emma Chambers) inability to understand jokes. Set in the fictional Oxfordshire village of Dibley— although actually filmed in Turville, Buckinghamshire, which has also hosted film crews for Midsomer Murders, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Foyle’s War—the series was created by Richard Curtis for Dawn French (below) and COUNTRY LIFE contributor Kit Hesketh-harvey wrote several episodes. Famous for its Christmas and Comic Relief specials, we can only hope for another reprisal. ‘The success of The Vicar of Dibley lay in Richard Curtis’s mastery of that most elusive yet enduring quality as a writer, which is heart. I was lucky enough to contribute my ha’p’orth, particularly in the Songs of Praise episode, where my training as a chorister and choral scholar proved helpful,’ recalls Mr Hesketh-harvey. ‘I remember our great family friend, David Croft, the writer of so many treasured comedy series, including Dad’s Army, telephoning to console me the morning after the critics had almost universally slated the series’ first episode. “At last,” he said, “the BBC has relented and given us a comedy series written as it should be: fine ensemble acting around the premise that the British, however absurd, are actually rather a nice bunch”.’