Let-ters pray! Royal Mail celebrates first-class comedy Vicar of Dibley with special stamp collection

Beloved comedy series The Vicar of Dibley will be celebrated on a special set of 12 Royal Mail stamps. 

Eight depict memorable scenes from the hit BBC sitcom starring Dawn French, including the guest appearance by former ballerina Dame Darcey Bussell, while four stamps, presented in a miniature sheet, show a Dibley Parish Council meeting.

The Vicar of Dibley starred French as chocolate-craving Reverend Geraldine Granger and ran for three series from 1994 to 2000, followed by four special episodes between 2004 and 2007.

Royal Mail’s director of external affairs and policy, David Gold, said: ‘The superb writing and the warmth and idiosyncrasies of its characters made The Vicar of Dibley one of the most loved TV comedies of all time.

‘We celebrate the series with new stamps revisiting some of the show’s classic moments.’

The sitcom, created by Richard Curtis, was inspired by the Church of England’s decision in 1993 to allow the ordination of women.

It traced the fortunes of French’s character, Granger, after she is appointed as vicar in the fictional Oxfordshire village of Dibley, with episodes showing her learning to live and work alongside a colourful band of locals, including parish councillor Jim Trott (played by Trevor Peacock) and church verger Alice Tinker (Emma Chambers).

The Royal Mail set includes two second-class stamps, one showing Geraldine at the chaotic wedding ceremony of Hugo Horton (James Fleet) and Alice, and another of Geraldine forcing David Horton (Gary Waldhorn) to smile after hearing that Alice and Hugo are expecting a baby.

One stamp depicts Parish councillor Jim Trott (played by Trevor Peacock) writing ‘no, no, no, no, no’ on a piece of paper to avoid waking Alice and Hugo’s baby

The recurring scene where Geraldine attempts to tell Alice a joke in the vestry over a cup of tea is also depicted on a first class stamp 

The moment where Geraldine jumps into a very deep puddle, and a recurring scene where she attempts to tell Alice a joke in the vestry over a cup of tea, are both depicted on first-class stamps.

Also included are £1 stamps of Frank Pickle (John Bluthal) and Owen Newitt (Roger Lloyd-Pack) performing in the Dibley Christmas show, while another shows Jim writing his characteristic response: ‘No, no, no, no, no’ – on a piece of paper to avoid waking Alice and Hugo’s baby.

One of the best remembered scenes of the sitcom found Geraldine taking charge of a dance routine alongside Dame Darcey.

This moment, and a scene where Geraldine samples a sandwich made by Letitia Cropley (Liz Smith), are both featured on £2.80 stamps.

French’s comical cleric tied the knot with handsome newcomer Harry Kennedy, played by Richard Armitage, in the final full-length episode on New Year’s Day in 2007.

A handful of Comic Relief sketches and mini-episodes have appeared since the series officially ended, including three short ‘sermons’ broadcast during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Frank Pickle (John Bluthal) and Owen Newitt (Roger Lloyd-Pack) ae shown performing in the Dibley Christmas show

Four stamps are presented in a miniature sheet and show a Dibley Parish Council meeting

Geraldine is depicted trying to take charge of a dance routine alongside Dame Darcey Bussell

Geraldine samples one of Letitia’s unusual sandwich creations in a special £2.80 stamp

Geraldine is seen officiating at Alice and Hugo’s chaotic wedding ceremony

Geraldine forces David Horton (Gary Waldhorn) to smile after hearing Alice and Hugo are expecting a baby