The Vicar of Dibley (1994–2020) User Reviews (69)

Great example of old fashioned British humour

[paudie · 7/10 · 14 October 2009]

I purchased this collection for my better half, who is a big fan. I didn't consider myself a fan. In fact I usually tried to avoid watching it when it was on TV. However for a few evenings when there was nothing on TV we decided to put "The Vicar of Dibley" on. Since I had bought the boxset I thought I'd better watch a few episodes anyway. Anything for a quiet life!To my surprise I found myself really enjoying it. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, even if you can see most of them coming a mile off.

The "Vicar of Dibley" is not edgy or groundbreaking. It is from the tradition of broad British humour, full of ridiculous situations, puns and double entendres. It gently pokes fun at the upper classes and the establishment. The characters are one-dimensional and in general don't change at all. However the comedic situations are so well written and acted that even the most cynical will be laughing. Dawn French is brilliant as the trendy but lonely vicar. Despite her smart remarks you cannot help but wish her the best. The supporting cast including Gary Waldhorn and Roger LLoyd Pack are all experienced comic actors and relish their roles. Particular mention goes to Emma Chambers who plays the really, really thick Alice. who gets the most memorable lines. The "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" speech is a particular highlight. The writing is great, creating the standalone world of Dibley, with its own logic and conventions. You could buy this a present for a "real fan" but end up loving it yourself.

A great ensemble comedy with many laughs

[kclambeth · 9/10 · 20 May 2007]

I have a soft spot for this great British comedy and i always find myself watching old episodes on UKTV gold even though i've seen them god know's how many times; it still never fails to make me smile.

Dawn French plays the role of the first female vicar in Dibley brilliant, she has a softness and rapport with all the characters but especially Alice who she seems to tolerate even when she's talking utter rubbish and not understanding her jokes! She also really cares about the church and helping people and is one cool vicar.

the good thing about this sitcom is that it's an ensemble piece, no one tries to out-do each other and there are no big shots, just great actors. I don't hate any of the characters (although Letitia Cropley is probably the weakest). I love Hugo and David's relationship and i love Owen, Frank and Jim together at the Parrish meetings, they're hilarious, especially when they break into song and dance routines! It's also nice to see older characters for a change.

The writing's quite bold and i love the references to British celebrities and current events; it's great to see who has been replaced on Geraldine's 'hot men' wall next to Jesus; sometimes it's Sean Bean, sometimes Robbie Williams.

Another thing i like is that it's set in a small village where everybody knows each other, Geri's the only sane one (and maybe David) surrounded by people who are plain bonkers, but she still loves them and Dibley has a place in her heart.

The joke at the end is always funny where Alice struggles to get the punchline so don't turn off when the credits start rolling! Go on, give this programme a go, guaranteed you'll be in stitches!

Very very funny

[Irishchatter · 9/10 · 27 October 2015]

You really really can't miss this, Dawn French was honestly the best at playing a female vicar. This show really reminds me a lot of Father Ted. It was good to know that she really made it successful for herself after partnering up with Jennifer Sunders for years. Although she hasn't been up to much lately which is a pity because she was a brilliant actress and comedian at playing Reverend Geraldine.

I really thought the characters Frank Pickle, Jim Trott and Owen Newitt were the most funniest men of the series. I suppose all of the group members were all dysfunctional in a nice way!

It also has a brilliant ending in which if you haven't seen it, watch the whole series ;)

A souvenir I brought home from the UK

[missmarmite · 13 April 2002]

I watched an episode of this series first on a holiday in England, not knowing what it was. Dawn French was in it, reason enough for me. What I got was amazing: A series full of weird but so amiable characters which I had never seen anywhere before. I instantly adored every minute of it. Now it's the only series I own completely on video/DVD and even after the hundredth time watching it I still want to see it once more.

My urgent plea to any German broadcaster: Show this ! The comedy in Germany became much better over the recent years, but nobody can top this. So show it!!!

I rate this 12 out of 10!

Hilarious

[xsnowangelx · 10/10 · 20 October 2005]

'Vicar of Dibley' is one of the funniest shows ever made. It is consistently hilarious. It never fails to make me laugh. Dawn French is priceless as the lady Vicar who arrives in a sleepy, yet crazy town whose occupants are expecting a male Vicar. She wins them all over eventually of course, but spends most of the time dealing with the general insanity of the village on a day-to-day basis. Dawn French, James Fleet and Emma Chambers among many others in the brilliant cast make this show a flawless, classic comedy. If you are a fan of British comedies, you should check this one out for sure. It is one of the absolute best.

British Sitcom has done it again!!!

[suemartin23264 · 10/10 · 3 September 2007]

The Vicar of Dibley had me in stitches when it was first aired in 1994. Now, I make sure to catch it whenever it's shown on TV. It never bores me! The First Series is very funny and I would recommend this to everyone. It's best to start watching this from the very beginning.

This was followed by two specials : The Easter Bunny - which is hilarious, but also features the death of one of my favourite characters, and The Christmas Lunch Incident - which is definitely not one to be missed! After this, the sitcom gets seriously funny, what with the Comic Relief shorts and the final two Christmas specials - which are some of the best pieces of comedy ever to be filmed! In short, you'd be very stupid to miss this. The episodes are always aired now and again, so just catch one on the TV sometime, and I promise you, by the end - you'll be begging for more!

Watch this show you won't be sorry!!

[econtarino-320-260954 · 10/10 · 21 April 2013]

I love, love, love this show. One of the funniest shows on PBS that I have seen. I have been watching it for two years and look forward every week to the next episode. The cast work off each other better than any other show I watch. Absolutely worth watching!!!! Easch week you don't know what will happen, but you do know you will be laughing. And the best is when Geraldine and Alice are sitting at the table and Geraldine tells a joke and Alice's reaction. This week I finally saw the first show and I am hoping that the show is starting from the beginning again so I can have the pleasure of seeing all the seasons. I have shared this show with my friends and they were very happy that I did. One of the best things about this show is that the cast is small and you get to know them so well. Each week you feel like you are part of Dibley Village and you are right there with the people visiting and sharing in their experiences.

Hidden gem

[kenndydemp · 10/10 · 13 October 2023]

I've been re-watching this show with my girlfriend and it's Absolutely laugh out loud funny. Exactly what you need from a sitcom, at the end of the working day to be given some laughter. The show is full of witty writing, heartwarming moments, and skilled performances from its cast, particularly Dawn French as the lady Vicar who arrives in a sleepy, yet crazy town whose occupants are expecting a male Vicar. She wins them all over eventually of course, but spends most of the time dealing with the general insanity of the village on a day-to-day basis. If you are a fan of British comedies, you should check this one out for sure. It is one of the absolute best.

no bark and even less bite

[graham_525 · 6/10 · 21 June 2008]

It's kind of funny in bits but I can't stomach Richard Curtis's wet dream fantasy about an England that doesn't and never did exist. It seems that many people are comparing it to Father Ted and for obvious reasons. Both centre on the flawed religious leader at the centre of a rural community and their respective half-witted sidekicks. I have to say I'm very much on the Father Ted side. The Vicar of Dibley is for sure far slicker and more professional than Father Ted but it always stops short of saying anything of any substance about the church. At the heart of it The Vicar of Dibley is respectful of the Church of England and the whole myth of English village life that goes with it. The Church of England may not be as obvious a target as the Roman Catholic Church whose evils are plain to see but it has its dark side and questionable business interests just like any religion. Where The Vicar of Dibley is irreverent Father Ted is subversive. There isn't a single moment in the three series of Father Ted where they show an ounce of respect for the church and that is why for me it is superior. However I know others will find The Vicar of Dibley superior for exactly the same reason.

If Richard Curtis had written The Vicar of Dibley with the same biting cynicism with which he wrote Blackadder it could have a great comedy.

Unique concept, and often hilarious with a fabulous Dawn French

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 11 June 2010]

I do agree that the earlier episodes are better than the later ones, but the later episodes are still in my opinion entertaining and watchable. Whatever its minor problems may be, I love The Vicar of Dibley, it is heart-warming and very often hilarious. I love the concept, I think it is very unique, the stories are well-constructed and as well as being very funny, the writing is actually very bold and daring as well. The Vicar of Dibley is lovely to watch visually too, those landscapes of the countryside and everything are very picturesque and somewhat nostalgic as well, and the music especially the main theme song "The Lord is my Shepherd" by Howard Goodell which is beautiful. Also, the acting is really good, Dawn French I think is a very good comedienne whether with Jennifer Saunders or not, and she is fabulous here in probably her best role as the boisterous yet lovable Geraldine. And she is very well supported by Gary Waldhorn, James Fleet, Emma Chambers, Trevor Peacock, Roger Lloyd-Pack and John Bluthal. Overall, The Vicar of Dibley is a great show. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Not the best show but definitely the scene stealer is.

[exceeding · 7/10 · 24 September 2021]

The Alice Tinker character is hilarious, maybe the funniest character ever on a series not known to Americans. She steals the show when she comes on. She's even funnier than Compo on Last of the Summer Wine.

Make sure you are wearing rubber pants - you'll wet yourself laughing

[armittj · 10/10 · 16 April 2008]

What can I say that has not already be said, except that I stupidly sat down and watched all of series I in a single sitting and had serious laughter pains in my stomach and tears rolling down my cheeks. Oh the sheer joy. Just started on series 2 with series 3 in the mail from the US. The standard doesn't seem to have dropped, incredibly, it just rises. Dawn French and company (lets not forget the writers) manage to entertain at an incredibly high level - every single line is a gem - the end of episode joke after the credits should not be missed - it is so bad it creases you up with laughter.

The show is a blast - a perfect 10/10.

The great and lousy comedy about a vicar

[skinnybert · 6/10 · 27 August 2023]

Like much of British comedy, a lot of general entertainment, a few brilliant moments, and a fair few selections of misses. High points tend to be the meeting scenes, which give each of the main actors good opportunity to deliver some very funny comedy. Low points tend to focus on the vicar herself in ways that -- well, there are different kinds of comedy, and TV comedy often goes for simply having characters deliver zingers at each other. British TV comedy in particular seems to like characters who are simply dense -- as if inviting the audience to feel smart by showing them characters who are not. That is indeed comedy, and it's a good portion of this show, but one might begin to wonder why the show makes her actually a rather lousy vicar, but also wants us to regard her as doing a good job of it.

Is this the most overrated comedy of all time????

[tonyjackie · 3/10 · 9 March 2007]

It baffles me,it really does.I have watched a couple of television polls recently regarding the greatest comedies in history and 'The Vicar of Dibley' came in extremely high.it was even higher than 'Rising Damp','Dad's Army','Steptoe & Son' and even 'Bilko'for gawd's sake! I have watched this series many times and yes,I have smiled a couple of times.But for so many people to rave about this show honestly has me perplexed.I have had arguments with people about it and they won't be swayed at all.But why should they?They are as entitled to their opinion as I am.But it just isn't that great,it really isn't.

Dawn French is fine I guess as the lead actor but,and let's be very honest about this,the characters of Hugo,Owen,Jim and Alice(especially Alice!) are overacted to the hilt.Dialogue is delivered with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer as the audience roar their approval.I don't know if I have ever seen such a stupid and badly acted bunch of character's in a sit com."No.no,no,yes,yes,yes" just shut the hell up will ya!!! I have to add by saying that the 2006 Christmas two part special was truly awful.A series of childish and predictable sketches thrown together in hopefully hilarious fashion.It was the top rated programme over the holiday period I believe.I have one thing to say to that...'HUMBUG!'.

An absolute British Riot!

[dkatewin · 26 February 2002]

If you have yet to see this show you're missing out!!

I have found this show on late at night on PBS and have found it to be one of the funniest shows I've ever seen on TV! It is written by Four Weddings writer Richard Curtis and is starred in by some of the most fantastic British comics on screen today. Dawn French and Emma Chambers are absolutely hillarious together. I really found it a relief and a pleasure to see something so funny on TV for once.

Perfect! A true GEM!

[MoonIndy · 10/10 · 8 October 2018]

This show will forever be one of my favourites, the cast are amazing, the writing funny and it never misses a beat.

Laugh a minute stuff

[studioAT · 8/10 · 31 August 2010]

The Vicar of Dibley was one of the big hit comedies during it's extended run from 1994-2006 and I'm sure it will live on and be remembered as fondly as sitcoms such as Are you Being Served from the seventies and eighties is today.

It isn't just the fantastic performance's from Dawn French that carries this sitcom because the rest of the ensemble cast who provide so much of the comedy.

Although I think the standard dropped briefly during the 2004 special the sharp writing of Richard Curtis meant that the series recovered to go out on a high with the ending in 2006 leaving the public wanting more.

There are so many great moments from this show that will live on forever and this is a testament to the fantastic writing and cast.

Bloody Marvellous!

[anupiya · 9/10 · 23 July 2022]

I was not one of those people who got to see this series in the 90's, but boy wasn't it just the thing that I needed to see in 2022.

Although I've seen Dawn French appearing on reality TV shows, this is the first time I saw her playing a main role in a TV series. She, and the whole cast was absolutely superb!

Most of the cast has passed away now, but they've left one of the greatest comedies of all time for us to enjoy, even decades after. I'm sure you will fall in love with all of the characters in no time.

Enjoy!

Two knockers, one comedy heavyweight, halo optional

[Artimidor · 9/10 · 15 April 2013]

If Mathews' and Linehan's "Father Ted" is the clerical comedy with a touch of the surreal and never ending absurdity, then Richard Curtis' "The Vicar of Dibley" is family fare in contrast endowed with a lot of heart, charm and warmth. Not in itself a bad thing if your main concern is to have it funny, as for very different reasons it's no less engaging or lacking side-splitting humor than the groundbreaking adventures of Ted & company on Craggy island. Curtis' writing transformed Rowan Atkinson into the dastardly snarky "Black Adder", made puppets deal heavy blows in "Spitting Image" and is responsible for the most successful British comedy features to date. And he did it again in the "Vicar of Dibley", blessed be his soul. Aside from partly bold and mostly hilarious writing the show succeeds thanks to a theater trained ensemble cast that couldn't have been chosen any better, a very fresh scenario (woman minister conquering ultraconservative domain sit-com style) and there's edgy social commentary modeled after a courageous real life female vicar. The latter only might have the disadvantage not to be as funny in church as the glorious Dawn French portraying a priest on church inspired TV.

Ah yes, the French is coming! To Dibley! That's what it's all about. The parish council consisting of the overbearing head conservative plus dimwit son, a pedantic minute man, Letitia, "floral supervisor" with a decisive lack of taste, stuttering Jim and farmer Owen with, let's say, a lot of love for animals, well, they all aren't particular happy about a change. Aside from the local verger. She has a rather unique view on life, the universe and everything anyway. So it takes a while for the locals until it dawns on them that this new minister is actually not as bad as she might appear at first. In retrospect that progressive development is one of the brilliant things of the series: It stretches over more than a decade with multiple specials throughout the years, so that characters grow, fall in love, marry, even die, and along the way the once questioned role of the female vicar becomes more and more indispensable. Warning: You might not be a Christian yet, but with this one you seriously risk conversion!

The Vicar of Dibley

[jboothmillard · 9/10 · 10 June 2005]

I didn't watch this sitcom that often, but whenever I did this is just a treat. Dibley is a local town where the church has no Vicar. When they eventually find a Vicar they discover it is a woman, British Comedy Award winning (and nominated) and three-time BAFTA and twice National Television Award nominated Dawn French as Geraldine Granger. Throughout the sitcom "Gerry" does services, eats chocolate, sits with friends and gets many ideas for money or fame. There are other great characters in the show, not just "Gerry". There's simple David Horton (Gary Waldhorn), the slow-minded but lovable Alice Tinker/ Horton (BAFTA winning Emma Chambers), the friendly sometimes dim Hugo Horton (James Fleet), the confident Frank Pickle (John Bluthal), Owen Newitt (Roger Lloyd Pack) and the repetitive Jim Trott, aka, "No, no, no, no" (Trevor Peacock). It was nominated the BAFTAs for two Lew Grade Awards, Situation Comedy Award, and two Best Comedy (Programme or Series) awards, and it won the National Television Awards Most Popular Comedy Programme (also nominated). Dawn French was number 4 on Britain's Favourite Comedian, the Christmas Specials were number 6 on The 100 Greatest Moments, and the programme was number 3 on Britain's Best Sitcom. Very good!

No, no, no, no, umm YES

[patrickmolloy-54062 · 10/10 · 5 June 2020]

Brilliant comedy that has stood the test of time. I only wish there were more e.

a disaster of a show

[paint9698 · 2/10 · 4 September 2010]

Utterly unfunny...I mean honestly is there any truth in a sex crazed, chocaholic vicar who has nothing but disrespect for what she's supposed to be ACTUALLY doing. I found the whole thing cynical, unconvincing and treating country folk like they're nothing but morons. Very ugly, nasty even...But to top it off it's poorly written, Dawn French can make nothing of what are supposed to be witty one liners.It's the sort of sitcom where after every line you go UGGGGGGHHHHH... The rest of the cast are no better, the town millionaire, his idiot son and his comatose daughter-in-law try to act as merrily idiotic as is humanly IMPOSSIBLE. And that doesn;t even mention the half witted farmer and the slutty old lady...all supposedly hilarious. Truly abysmal television

Brilliant

[Didier-5 · 21 June 1999]

"Vicar of Dibley" is one of the funniest comedies from anywhere I have ever seen, "no no no no, yes". You will not be sorry, if you miss it on tv, get it out on video. Laughter is good for the soul, plenty here.

Slapstick Sermons and Hilarious Hymns

[Duzniak38 · 10/10 · 3 August 2006]

The Vicar of Dibley is a rare British treat; a television show which is fresh and original. It follows the antics that Geraldine Granger encounters, when she becomes the new vicar in the small, cozy village of Dibley. Filled with hilariously crazy characters such as Alice, the dopey but lovable friend of Geraldine, whose mousy characteristics and childish charm is both heartwarming and fun. There is Jim; a stuttering old fool who usually gets into a pickle. There is Hugo, the lovable old oaf and son of David, the serious, stern man of the village. Each episode of the Vicar of Dibley is packed with outstanding comedy. Visual and spoken jokes are played out very well, in this well-rounded polished British TV gem.

"The groundbreaking social, political message sent by the show driven through comforting, traditional, relatable medium of British humour forms a much-needed national treasure

[dwandwy · 10/10 · 4 January 2024]

This series was not only consistently humorous and entertaining, it was a pivotal landmark a moment of reflection for the highly patriarchal clergy during the early 1990s. A message sent through the art of comedy and humour that sent across of how diabolically patriarchal the clergy really was. A perception which saw an alternative future for women in as vicars.

Women were first ordained in 1993, this caused major outrage over the united kingdom. Dawn French's relatable and vastly entertaining performance was so socially groundbreaking as the idea of British situation comedy was to have conflicting relationships between characters. This show, however, used French's intelligence and humour to take characters such as David Horton, who initially despises the vicar, and help him flourish into not only displaying a more welcoming attitude towards her, a loving, caring attitude towards her.

The character interplay, comic timing, revelations, and attitude changes are incredibly entertaining, humorous, unique, to the point where the relationships between the characters can move you by the end of the series. The acting showcased by the whole class is unique and absolutely stellar. For example, the comic timing between Dawn French and Emma Chambers is not only remarkably funny, it also captures the essence of a true friendship.

Dawn French is absolutely remarkable throughout the series and makes the entire show her own (allowing time for other character interactions, of course), she shines a light on what it is to be a woman in the clergy, and in the world of comedy and entertainment. The relatability of her character is what made the show such a groundbreaking success. Her attitude towards the patriarchy is absolutely perfect and showcases the social movements we need to make.