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The Vicar Of Dibley Will Feature Black Lives Matter Sermon This Christmas

The Vicar Of Dibley Will Feature Black Lives Matter Sermon This Christmas

Dawn French's character will address the move for equality in light of George Floyd's death

Dominic Smithers

Dominic Smithers

The Vicar of Dibley will feature a Black Lives Matter sermon during this year's Christmas special.

The hit comedy is returning to our screens this festive season for three 10-minute episodes.

In one of the episodes, Dawn French's character Geraldine Kennedy will address the global move for equality in the light of George Floyd's death on 25 May this year.

According to reports of a preview of the sketch, it starts off with Geraldine coming out of her house after lockdown.

She then turns to the audience to explain how she was overwhelmed by the 'horror show' of Mr Floyd's death.

And while she says Dibley may not be the most diverse of areas in the country, she says: "I don't think it matters where you're from. I think it matters that you do something about it because Jesus would, wouldn't he?"

Geraldine will take the knee in a Vicar of Dibley Christmas special.
BBC

She adds: "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."

She then walks over to the village notice board and removes notes for decimalisation and a missing button, replacing them with a sign that reads: "Black Lives Matter."

Geraldine says: "I think that in Dibley perhaps we should think about taking down some of these old notices like this and that and perhaps we should put up one like this instead."

The episode also sees her take the knee as a sign of respect.

Each of the short sketches, which have been written by the show's co-creators Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, will see 63-year-old French giving a sermon directly to camera.

The move to discuss the need for greater equality has been praised by many.

Labour MP Zara Al-Bukake said: "Regardless of your political persuasion, I think we can all agree that BLM has brought communities closer together and resulted in a step forward in race relations. A Vicar of Dibley special to celebrate this is richly deserved."

George Floyd's death earlier this year sparked a global movement for equality.
PA

However, not everyone believes the show should have taken this step.

Speaking about the decision for the show to address the topic, Steve Bennett, editor of the comedy website Chortle, said the move falls flat.

He said: "Making social comments is absolutely what comedy should do and BLM is a commendable cause, but Geraldine's very earnest speech certainly jars with the tone of the show.

"In his obvious passion to share his beliefs, Richard Curtis seems to have forgotten the jokes, which makes this a very political moment."

The BBC defended the decision to include the sermon.

A spokesperson told LADbible: "The Vicar of Dibley Christmas Sermons reflects on the events of 2020 including clapping for the NHS, Black Lives Matter and school exams being cancelled amongst others.

"Geraldine is a well-established fictional character of a much-loved comedy who gives her take on the key moments of the year. Audiences understand the difference between news and comedy content, and the sermons do not breach the BBC's impartiality guidelines."

Featured Image Credit: BBC

Topics: Black Lives Matter, Racism, UK News, Comedy, UK Entertainment