Vicar of Dibley Christmas special will address Black Lives Matter: ‘Until all lives matter the same, we are doing something very wrong’

First of the series’ three 10-minute festive specials airs tonight 7 December

The Vicar of Dibley’s forthcoming holiday specials will see Dawn French’s character address the Black Lives Matter movement.

BBC’s hit sitcom is due to air three 10-minute specials over the festive period – the first of which arrives today (7 December). The brief instalments will follow Geraldine Grainger (French) as she tries to lift the spirits of her congregation amid this year’s lockdown.

It has been confirmed that one of the three episodes will see the female vicar speak about the Black Lives Matter movement and the murder of George Floyd earlier this year.

Geraldine will be seen taking a knee in honour of those who have died as a result of police brutality. The character then explains why she believes the anti-racism movement is so important.

“I don’t think it matters where you’re from,” she tells the cameras. “I think it matters that you do something about it because Jesus would, wouldn’t he?”

One episode will pay tribute to actor Emma Chambers, who portrayed Alice Tinker on the hit series before she died aged 53 in 2018 (BBC)

She continues: “Until all lives matter the same, we are doing something very wrong.”

“We need to focus on justice for a huge chunk of our countrymen and women who seem to have a very bad, weird deal from the day they’re born,” adds Geraldine.

French’s character is later seen putting up posters around the village that she has made in support of Black Lives Matter.

The forthcoming Christmas specials will see Geraldine and her fictional village adjust to life in lockdown. Co-star James Fleet will reprise his role as Hugo Horton. 

Another of the episodes will pay tribute to actor Emma Chambers, who previously portrayed Alice Tinker in the series. Chambers died aged 53 after suffering a heart attack in 2018.

The Vicar of Dibley in Lockdown begins on BBC One at 8.50pm tonight (7 December).