Thanks to Netflix, my houseguests and I are watching the Vicar of Dibley and savoring each episode, for we are viewing the last season, in which (be still my beating heart) Richard Armitage plays Geraldine’s swain Harry, and Jane Austen’s novels become a point of discussion. Dawn French as Geraldine is at the top of her comedic game in this series, which was woefully short and had too few episodes to please this Dibley addict.
In the The Handsome Stranger, Harry and Geraldine discuss a scene in Sense and Sensibility. (Click on image.)
Richard Armitage and Dawn French in the Vicar of Dibley
If you have a Netflix account or can watch the videos streaming somewhere, I highly recommend this funny, warm-hearted series. The fact that the Vicar is a Jane Austen fan put more icing on the cake for me.
Jane Austen's World 
thank you Vic for a few seconds of Richard Armitage! that just made my day!
That made me laugh so hard! I will definitely have to check this series out. I know Dawn French from Lark Rise to Candleford. And Richard Armitage! What a great way to start my morning. :) Thanks!
It’s been way too long since I’ve visited you. I loved the Vicar of Dibley, unfortunately, I moved to a place I couldn’t watch it, and never got to the Richard Armitage part. I’ll have to try to find them. Tweeted.
I’m sorry to get off-topic, but what is the painting you used as your profile pic? It’s gorgeous! :-)
I bought that season because of RA. He is just wonderful here, as always! And Dawn French, just the best. Nice reminder.
I love this series! It’s been on Maryland Public Television for years and I can watch the same episodes 40 times and laugh like an idiot every time. The Vicar’s impression of Emma Thompson’s reaction as Elinor at the end of S&S is fantastic. And Richard is DE-LICIOUS. He needs to play Darcy in the next remake!!
Chris
I just discovered Vicar of Dibley about a month ago as I simultaneously became aware of Richard Armitage (sigh). I discovered Richard Armitage while viewing “North & South” based on Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel. I agree with Chris S. that he is “de-licious” to watch. I think if Jane Austen had seen him she would have definitely written Mr. Darcy for him; he would take Mr. Darcy to a whole new level (the last remake was 2005 and a remake might be too soon and any later and Mr. Armitage might be too old – though if anyone could pull it off he could). If anyone hasn’t seen N&S treat yourself and make certain you are undisturbed for the final scene. Sorry to digress from the Vicar of Dibley – to which I add my applause for choosing Richard Armitage to close the series. What an ending! I love the scenes where he says something about a woman in uniform and that lovely softness underneath (sigh, sigh); on their first date where he begins to ask her (the Vicar) what she does for a living then quickly retracts the question because he wants to get to know her first (so insightful a man!) where he knocks on her door after he’s left to ask about when he can kiss her (sigh, sigh, sigh) and when he finally does give her an account of their dates and claims his kiss (oh! sigh, sigh, sigh). “It should have been me” had me crying with laughter!!! The Vicar jumping in the puddle – unbelievably funny. Then the proposal scene reaction – I was almost on the floor on this one. A comedy movie would not be a bad thing for Richard Armitage (isn’t it lovely when he smiles and laughs) as long as he’s still the hero – let him flex the softer side of his acting muscles.
Many, many apologies for the duplicate entries.
Hope you don’t mind. I deleted one of them. :)
What a coincidence! I have been watching The Vicar of Dibley on Netflix, too. I’m on the third season. I had no idea that Armitage played a role in one of the episodes, so that just gives me something else to look forward to.
super! I love the Vicar of Dibley, watched it years ago and have recently rewatched the many series again.
That particular scene reminds me of how good an actress our Em is in the film of S&S the script of which she wrote because it carries all her feeling for Edward. Dawn French and Dibley are great, as are all the characters in it apart from Richard A and Dawn F. My favourites are Alice, Frank, Jim and Owen.
How many episodes was RA in? I thought it was only one but if here are more then I have an upcoming date with Netflix! Did anybody see him in the more recent Robin Hood series, about 5 or so years go? The Brits hated it, at least the ones I talked to. RA was the bad thug for the Sheriff of Nottingham. He was in back leather constantly and even in a devilish role, he had some soft moments where you almost wanted him to make a stand for good and not continue down that path. He was almost unrecognizable in The Hobbit recently as the tall and brooding leader of a group of, oh dear, I’m going to get this wrong and the Tolkien people will get mad but I think he was an elf??? A very large one, though. His voice was crystal clear. His face was quite altered. Lots of hair and beard. Back to Vicar of Dibley, I used to see it regularly on our PBS station a few years ago. Alice was hilarious!
Haha. I’m a “Tolkein people”, and I’m not mad, but I will very gently correct you. lol He is a Dwarf. The Elves were tall and slim with no facial hair. The Dwarves were a bit taller than the Hobbits, but still shorter than the Elves. In Tolkein’s Middle Earth, Elves were tall, unlike how I, and probably you, too, grew up thinking of Elves. Until I read Tokein when I was 12 or so, I pictured Elves as being little, like Leprechauns. But in the age of Middle Earth which Tolkein created, they were tall, majestic, cerebral, magical, and immortal, and I will forever think of them that way. The Dwarves worked with their hands and were brilliant craftsmen. The Hobbits were more “country-folk”, liking the simpler pleasures of life, like a good meal (several of them a day, of course), and a good pipe by the fireside.
Thanks for your post on The Vicar of Dibley! I love this series so much that I bought a box set of the DVDs. Just watched it again about a month ago. Dawn French is brilliant, and so is Mr. Armitage. :)
My local public television station offers Britcoms every Saturday night. Several are “regulars”: As Time Goes By, Are You Being Served, and Keeping Up Appearances. The Vicar of Dibley comes and goes; we’ve been rolling on the floor in states of hilarity for years over that show.