# List of The Vicar of Dibley episodes
*The Vicar of Dibley* is a [BBC One](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-one) sitcom starring [Dawn French](https://www.edgepedia.org/dawn-french) as the Reverend Geraldine Granger, the female vicar of a small rural English village. Its episode output consists of 14 regular episodes across three series broadcast between 1994 and 2000, plus a long tail of Christmas, New Year, Easter, and [Comic Relief](https://www.edgepedia.org/comic-relief) specials and short sketches running from 1996 to 2021.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml) • [2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regular episodes | 14 episodes in three series: six in 1994, four in 1997–1998, four in 1999–2000[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml) • [2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/) |
| First broadcast | "The Arrival", 10 November 1994, BBC One[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml) |
| Last full episode | "The Vicar in White", 1 January 2007, in which Geraldine marries Harry[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide) |
| Specials pattern | Multiple Christmas specials, a couple at New Year, and one Easter special, "The Easter Bunny"; from 1999 onwards the show almost exclusively produced holiday specials[4](https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/92239/1/2022WalkerEAPhD.pdf) |
| Comic Relief shorts | Sketches in 1997, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2015, and 2021, mostly under 15 minutes[5](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-vicar-of-dibley/seasons/official/0) |
| 2020 return | Three 9-minute "In Lockdown" episodes on BBC One in December 2020, plus a Big Night In sketch in April 2020[5](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-vicar-of-dibley/seasons/official/0) • [2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/) |
| Runtime shift | Series 1 and 2 episodes ran about 30 minutes; specials from 1996 onward ran 40 to 60 minutes[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide) |
## Series 1 (1994)
The sitcom launched with a six-part series broadcast weekly from 10 November to 15 December 1994.[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/) The episodes were:
1. **"The Arrival"** (10 November 1994). The aged Reverend Pottle dies, and the parish council is astonished to find his replacement is a woman; David Horton sets out to have her removed.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
2. **"Songs of Praise"** (17 November 1994). The BBC sends a crew to film a *Songs of Praise* program at Dibley's church, leading to romantic misunderstandings and choir auditions.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
3. **"Community Spirit"** (24 November 1994). Geraldine takes over the Autumn Fair and promises a celebrity such as [Elton John](https://www.edgepedia.org/elton-john) to open it, then struggles to deliver; [Kylie Minogue](https://www.edgepedia.org/kylie-minogue) appears as herself.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
4. **"The Window and the Weather"** (1 December 1994). A storm breaks a stained glass window, sending Geraldine fund-raising among David's well-to-do friends.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
5. **"Election"** (8 December 1994). Geraldine clashes with David over the local bus service and stands against him in the district council elections.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
6. **"Animals"** (15 December 1994). A pet bird's funeral inspires Geraldine to hold a special church service for all the village animals, despite David's opposition.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
## 1996 specials
Two specials followed in 1996, one themed around Easter and one around Christmas.[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/) **"The Easter Bunny"** (8 April 1996, 40 minutes) mixes Lenten fines and the Dibley bunny controversy with the illness of a parishioner. **"The Christmas Lunch Incident"** (25 December 1996, 45 minutes) has Geraldine agree to attend three different Christmas lunches to avoid hurting anyone's feelings, and also features a [Brussels sprout](https://www.edgepedia.org/brussels-sprout)-eating competition and what the episode guide calls the world's least-funny knock-knock joke.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
## Comic Relief 1997
**"Ballykissdibley"** (14 March 1997, 11 minutes) was a Red Nose Day sketch in which a handsome young Irish priest, Father Clifford, visits Dibley on a clergy exchange; [Stephen Tompkinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-tompkinson) and [Dervla Kirwan](https://www.edgepedia.org/dervla-kirwan) crossed over from the drama *Ballykissangel*.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
## Series 2 (1997–1998)
The second series was made up of three episodes, preceded by a Christmas special, and charted Alice and Hugo getting engaged and then married.[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/) The episodes were:
1. **"Engagement"** (25 December 1997, 40 minutes). Geraldine is determined to get Alice and Hugo together, and succeeds beyond her wildest dreams; she also receives an unexpected proposal herself.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide)
2. **"Dibley Live"** (8 January 1998). Radio Dibley goes live for a week, with a "Brain of Dibley" competition and Owen commenting on horse gelding.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
3. **"Celebrity Vicar"** (15 January 1998). Geraldine becomes a celebrity after appearing on Radio 2's *Pause for Thought*, while the villagers prepare the Dibley Gala.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
4. **"Love and Marriage"** (22 January 1998). The village prepares for Hugo and Alice's wedding, which brings a revelation from Alice and a visit from David's brother Simon.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
TVmaze dates "Engagement" as 26 December 1997 rather than 25 December.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide)
## Comic Relief 1999
A further short special, listed by TheTVDB as "Comic Relief – Red Nose Day Special", also known as "Celebrity Party", aired on 12 March 1999 and ran 14 minutes; [Johnny Depp](https://www.edgepedia.org/johnny-depp) guest starred.[5](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-vicar-of-dibley/seasons/official/0) • [2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/)
## Series 3 (1999–2000)
The third series, first broadcast over Christmas 1999 and [New Year](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-year) 2000, was themed around the four seasons.[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/) The episodes were:
1. **"Autumn"** (24 December 1999, 40 minutes). Geraldine tries to spend an evening alone with Simon; Alice returns from her honeymoon possibly pregnant.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
2. **"Winter"** (25 December 1999, 40 minutes). Dibley prepares its annual nativity play, with Alice and Hugo as Mary and Joseph.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide)
3. **"Spring"** (27 December 1999, 40 minutes). The Bishop of Mulberry is to christen Alice and Hugo's baby; [Sean Bean](https://www.edgepedia.org/sean-bean) appears as himself.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
4. **"Summer"** (1 January 2000, 40 minutes). A drought and the water board's plan to relocate the town or build a reservoir push Geraldine to drastic action.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide)
## 2004/2005 specials
After a four-year gap, a two-part special ran over Christmas and New Year. **"Merry Christmas"** (25 December 2004, 55 minutes) marks ten years since Geraldine's arrival, with model [Rachel Hunter](https://www.edgepedia.org/rachel-hunter) guesting.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide) The episode drew viewer complaints that some material denigrated Christianity and was unsuitable for Christmas night; the BBC responded that the show was a gentle comedy with moments of irreverence, and Ofcom did not uphold the complaints.[6](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/about-ofcom/bulletins/broadcast-bulletins/archive/pcb36/issue_36_programme_complaints_bulletin.pdf) **"Happy New Year"** (1 January 2005, 40 minutes) has the villagers buy Geraldine a speed-dating ticket for her 40th birthday, alongside a Make Poverty History storyline with guest stars [Miranda Hart](https://www.edgepedia.org/miranda-hart) and Cristian Solimeno.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide) A Comic Relief *Antiques Roadshow* parody followed on 11 March 2005 (14 minutes).[5](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-vicar-of-dibley/seasons/official/0)
## 2006/2007 specials
The Christmas 2006 and New Year 2007 specials focused on Geraldine getting married.[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/) **"The Handsome Stranger"** (25 December 2006, 60 minutes) has Alice conclude from *The Da Vinci Code* that she is the last living descendant of Jesus Christ.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide) **"The Vicar in White"** (1 January 2007, 60 minutes) is the last-ever episode of the sitcom: after a whirlwind romance with the handsome Harry, the chocaholic vicar swaps her dog collar for a wedding dress.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide) A Comic Relief *Celebrity Wife Swap* sketch aired on 16 March 2007 (9 minutes).[5](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-vicar-of-dibley/seasons/official/0) An academic study notes that these final two Christmas specials have no connection to Christmas at all.[4](https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/92239/1/2022WalkerEAPhD.pdf)
## Comic Relief revivals, 2013 and 2015
After many years away, Geraldine returned in a 9-minute Comic Relief sketch, "Women Bishops", on 3 March 2013, focused on the campaign to allow female bishops.[5](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-vicar-of-dibley/seasons/official/0) • [2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/) "The Bishop of Dibley" (13 March 2015, 11 minutes) came next; when the [Church of England](https://www.edgepedia.org/church-of-england) approves women becoming bishops, Geraldine dreams of being appointed to the Dibley post.[5](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-vicar-of-dibley/seasons/official/0) • [2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/)
## 2020–2021: The Big Night In and In Lockdown
Geraldine Grainger delivered an update on life in the parish in a 4-minute sketch for *The Big Night In*, broadcast on 23 April 2020 near the start of the coronavirus crisis.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide) • [2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/) Three new short "In Lockdown" episodes, featuring the vicar and Hugo, aired on BBC One on 7, 14, and 21 December 2020, each 9 minutes, followed by a 34-minute compilation on 23 December 2020.[5](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-vicar-of-dibley/seasons/official/0) • [2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/) A Comic Relief sketch aired on 19 March 2021, and a 90-minute retrospective documentary, *The Vicar of Dibley: Inside Out*, aired on U&Gold on 6 March 2021.[5](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-vicar-of-dibley/seasons/official/0)
## Structure of the episode output
The episode list shows an unusual production pattern. Only Series 1 was a straight weekly run of six episodes; afterwards the show moved to specials, and from 1999 onwards it almost exclusively produced holiday specials rather than conventional series.[4](https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/92239/1/2022WalkerEAPhD.pdf) The specials also grew longer: Series 1 and 2 episodes ran about 30 minutes, while the 1996 Christmas special ran 45 minutes and the 2004 and 2006 Christmas specials ran 55 to 60 minutes.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide) Episode databases differ in how they organize this output: epguides numbers the specials continuously with the series episodes, while TVmaze and TheTVDB group them as specials attached to the regular seasons.[1](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide) • [5](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-vicar-of-dibley/seasons/official/0)
## References
1. [The Vicar of Dibley (an Episode Guide), epguides.com](https://epguides.com/VicarofDibley/guide.shtml)
2. [The Vicar Of Dibley episode guide, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/the_vicar_of_dibley/episodes/)
3. [The Vicar of Dibley – Episode Guide, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/shows/1530/the-vicar-of-dibley/episodeguide)
4. [Walker, E. (2022). PhD thesis, University of East Anglia](https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/92239/1/2022WalkerEAPhD.pdf)
5. [The Vicar of Dibley – Specials, TheTVDB.com](https://thetvdb.com/series/the-vicar-of-dibley/seasons/official/0)
6. [Ofcom broadcast bulletin, issue number 36, 6 June 2005](https://www.ofcom.org.uk/siteassets/resources/documents/about-ofcom/bulletins/broadcast-bulletins/archive/pcb36/issue_36_programme_complaints_bulletin.pdf)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Sitcom and comedy series › Comedy-series episode lists and notable episodes*
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