Dawn French broke down in tears as she struggled to film a tribute to late co-star Emma Chambers during the upcoming The Vicar Of Dibley specials.
The comedian said she had to shoot the scenes honouring Emma’s character Alice Tinker seven times.
Emma died in 2018 at the age of 53 after suffering a heart attack, and the sitcom will mirror real life events when Dawn’s character Geraldine Grainger explains that Alice has died.
Speaking to The Mirror about the scenes, Dawn said: “Along with all the silly, funny stuff, there is a moment where we pay tribute to Alice and that was not easy to film.
“Honestly, I had to do it seven times. I didn’t get through it once without tears but it’s really important to remember this is where real life and Dibley come together.
“[Writers] Richard Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer have got this skill of making stuff funny and light but also being truthful and honest.”
Dawn also admitted she has still not been able to watch the emotional episode, which will air as one of the three new specials.
The 10-minute specials – airing straight after repeats of classic episodes in the lead up to Christmas – will see the vicar delivering sermons to her parishioners via Zoom during lockdown, post lockdown and pre-another-lockdown.
She will discuss important topics, such as how it’s never a good idea to let Owen Newitt – who was played by the late Roger Lloyd-Pack – cut your hair, or make homemade wine.
She will also be joined by James Fleet, who plays Emma’s on-screen husband Hugo Horton.