BBC Vicar of Dibley cast now – tragic deaths, famous husband and major transformation

The Vicar of Dibley is a cherished Christmas classic, yet behind the scenes, life hasn’t been quite so merry for some cast members.

The comedy first graced our screens in 1994 and ran until 2007, and three decades later, fans still relish the return of episodes. The sitcom revolved around Reverend Geraldine Granger (played by Dawn French) – the first female vicar to arrive in the tranquil village of Dibley.

But she wasn’t the only famous face to grace the screen, with the show boasting a wealth of talented actors portraying unforgettable characters.

In addition to the revered main cast, it showcased talents such as Miranda Hart, Mel Giedroyc and Peter Capaldi to name a few. A number of celebrity guests also made cameo appearances, including Kylie Minogue, Sean Bean and Jeremy Paxman.

The series concluded when Geraldine tied the knot with handsome Harry, despite a series of blunders including a very muddy wedding dress. In 2020, the infamous vicar made a comeback for several special festive episodes, which saw Geraldine preparing to deliver a sermon via webcam to the Parish of Dibley during lockdown.

But over the years, the cast has been hit by tragedy, including six heartbreaking deaths. Here’s what happened to the cast of the show after it ended.

Gary Waldhorn

The iconic actor Gary Waldhorn, who played the lovable but grumpy vicar David Horton, had a storied career. Gary was a staple in every episode, including the specials, with his most recent appearance being in the 2013 Comic Relief special.

Beyond The Vicar of Dibley, Gary Waldhorn made his mark in numerous iconic British TV shows, including The Sweeney, Heartbeat, and The Bill, as well as a stint in Hotel Babylon in 2008.

His distinctive voice also became familiar in various adverts, such as those for Green Flag, Kwik Fit, and Marmite. But in January 2022, Gary sadly passed away at the age of 78, reports .

His son Josh paid tribute, saying: “Classically trained, it was the theatre where he truly flourished and he leaves a legacy of entertainment that saw him frequent the boards of Broadway, the West End and our living rooms on the telly! He leaves behind his two grandsons, Cooper and Bayley and his son Josh. We will all miss him terribly.”

Dawn French 

Dawn French boasts a decorated career on both stage and screen, appearing in the theatre, TV series and big budget films as well as hosting shows such as ITV’s Little Big Shots.

Away from the cameras, Dawn tied the knot to comedian Lenny Henry when The Vicar of Dibley first aired, but they separated after 25 years of marriage back in April 2010. Dawn then went on to marry charity executive Mark Bignell in 2013 after two years together.

Over the years, Dawn has been very open about her weight loss journey over the years after making the decision to transform her lifestyle in 2011.

A cancer scare prompted the star to lose 7.5 stone for surgery, which she has since said it was a completely “practical” choice and not one based on her appearance.

But in 2020, Dawn said she was “back to being an entire barrel! and didn’t “give a f**k”. She didn’t reveal how much she had gained over the last 10 years but said she refuses to dislike herself in her podcast French and Saunders: T**ting About.

She told listeners: “I’ve gone back to being an entire barrel but do you know what, I’m going to be 63 this year, I don’t give a f**k. I really don’t, so long as I can walk.

“I’m not going to be stingy to myself anymore. I never did dislike anything about my body, even when I was very, very fat. I refuse to be forced to dislike myself.

“I used to get really angry when I did lose weight, people going, ‘You look so well’, as if you looked awful before – rewarding you for managing it, which is not easy, I accept that. But I didn’t want people to give me approval. It’s so patronising.”

Meanwhile, the 66-year-old actress has embraced her natural hair and has put an end to dying her locks dark brown. Taking to , she confessed: “t’s just hair, we spend so much time and money on it, I’m ready for this now and not to be dying it anymore.”

Emma Chambers 

Alice Horton, who was played by Emma Chambers, was the charmingly scatterbrained church verger, whom Geraldine once described as having the “intellectual capacity and charisma of a cactus”.

The actress kept us in stitches throughout all 20 episodes of the show, earning her the British Comedy Award for Best Actress in 1998. Emma also graced the screen as Hugh Grant’s sister in Notting Hill before transitioning to voice work.

Tragically, Emma passed away at home from a suspected heart attack in February 2018, aged just 53. Throughout her life, Emma battled severe allergies and was close friends with her co-star, Dawn.

Following the news of her death, Dawn gushed: “Emma was a very bright spark and the most loyal and loving friend anyone could wish for. I will miss her very much.”

In a heartfelt interview, she added: “Far too young and I think we’re all still reeling a little bit from it. My memories of working with Emma are some of my most favourite memories of my whole career.”

“She’s a massively diligent person, much unlike Alice. She was incredibly bright. Very funny, very knowing and yet she was able to play someone who was in a different world. She didn’t play a simpleton, she played someone who had a different reality. She was incredibly authentic at that and I will miss that.”

Roger Lloyd-Pack 

Roger Lloyd-Pak took on the role of Owen Newitt in the sitcom, a farmer and Parish council member, was notorious for his poor hygiene, earning him the title ‘Britain’s B.O. King’.

Lloyd-Pack, widely recognised for his iconic role as Trigger in Only Fools and Horses, also endeared himself to newer audiences with appearances in Doctor Who and as Barty Crouch, Sr. in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

His versatile acting skills were showcased in The Catherine Tate Show, The Bill, and Doc Martin, culminating in a final appearance on Law and Order: UK in 2014.

Sadly, the esteemed actor passed away from pancreatic cancer in January, 2014 at the age of 69, leaving behind a legacy celebrated by peers like David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst who attended his funeral.

The aired a heartfelt 10-minute homage to Lloyd-Pack, with Dawn French describing him as “a really lovely, interesting, complicated man” and suggesting that replaying the debut episode of Only Fools and Horses would be the most fitting tribute.

Trevor Peacock 

Trevor Peacock, father to renowned actors Daniel Peacock of Only Fools and Horses fame and Harry from Toast of London, played the role of Jim Trott on the show. His character quickly became a fan favourite with his memorable “no-no-no-no-no” catchphrase.

Unfortunately, the actor was sadly diagnosed with dementia back in 2009. Despite his condition, he made an appearance in the 2015 Comic Relief special of The Vicar of Dibley.

By 2017, the disease had progressed significantly, leading to his retirement from acting and subsequent move to a nursing home in Yeovil. He passed away on 8 March 2021 at the age of 89.

He is survived by his wife Tilly Tremayne and their two daughters Sally and Maudie as well as his two famous sons Daniel Peacock – who played Mental Mickey in Only Fools nd Horses – and Harry who was in Toast of London.

John Bluthal 

John Bluthal played the role of Boring Frank, the Parish council secretary – who was playfully dubbed ‘The Most Boring Man in Britain’ by a newspaper.

Actor John Bluthal was lauded for his prolific career spanning British theatre and TV favourites like Last of the Summer Wine and Casualty.

A true silver screen luminary, he featured in a slew of Carry On films and took on various roles in the 1967 Casino Royale Bond film. His later years saw him starring in the Coen brothers’ Hail, Caesar! (2016), and sharing screen time with Daniel Radcliffe in Jungle, which became his swansong performance.

The village of Dibley mourned deeply in November 2018 when John passed away at 89, making him one of two cast members lost that year. In a heartfelt ode to her late co-star, Dawn French lamented: “Tons of happy laughs remembered today. Cheeky, naughty, hilarious. Bye darlin’ Bluey.”

Liz Smith 

Liz Smith brought the iconic Letitia Cropley to life, endearing herself to fans as the Dibley church organist and Parish council regular during the show’s debut series.

The delightful Liz Smith graced two iconic British comedy series – The Vicar of Dibley and The Royle Family. She became a familiar face playing Letitia until the character’s demise, then had us laughing once more as Nana in The Royle Family.

Liz also featured in the first series of Lark Rise to Candleford and was honoured with an MBE in the 2009 New Year’s Honours.

Tragically, the seasoned TV actress died on Christmas Eve 2016 at the age of 95, mere days after a rerun of her poignant final The Royle Family episode had been broadcast.