The Arrival (The Vicar of Dibley)
Encyclopedia
"The Arrival" is the first episode of popular British Sitcom The Vicar of Dibley
. It was originally broadcast on BBC One
in the United Kingdom
on the 10 November 1994.
. The bishop sends a reply, promising to send his best vicar as soon as possible. The pompous, overbearing David Horton is thrilled and discusses the praises of this new "chap" that the bishop has promised them, and looks forward to getting Dibley back on its feet and putting more than a few locals in their place.
At the welcoming party thrown at Dibley manor, where the Horton father and son live, the council members gather and await the arrival of their new vicar. Suddenly a woman arrives on their doorstep and they - especially David - are shocked to see that "Gerry" is short for "Geraldine" not "Gerald" as they had first thought. The Reverend Gerladine Granger is a bubbly, vivacious woman who quickly befriends the locals although they remain uncertain at the thought of a woman vicar in their parish. David Horton is outraged at the notion and vows to have her ejected, intimidating the other council members into signing a letter that requests the bishop remove her from her position as soon as he can. Geraldine, on the other hand, is blissfully ignorant of David's dislike of her and his plans to get rid of her, and happily converses with the dim-witted verger
Alice Tinker as she explores the village.
At the next parish council meeting, David addresses the council members and claims that should they not agree with him and have Geraldine removed, they will become a national disgrace and the community will fall apart. No one has the nerve to challenge him and reluctantly agree. When Geraldine cheerfully arrives, David wants to make his feelings clear straight away and orders Frank to read the letter he has written to the bishop and forced the others to sign. After hearing the letter, Geraldine is deeply hurt and asks the village council is they really feel that way about her. Owen Newitt arrives and, after hearing the letter, is angered at David's rejection of Geraldine, claiming old Pottle was "a regular old woman anyway", and that it will be thrilling for them to have a woman vicar. David once again tries to take control by saying that a vote has already been passed and Geraldine must go, but Hugo, Frank, Jim and Mrs Cropley rebel, saying none of them voted for Geraldine's removal and that they side with Owen. Owen proposes that they give Geraldine a chance and let her see how she fares on Sunday
. All agree, except for David who is furious.
Sunday arrives and Geraldine performs a brilliant, lively service and gains the favour of the whole village. The council members tell her she will stay for good!
The Vicar of Dibley
The Vicar of Dibley is a British sitcom created by Richard Curtis and written for its lead actress, Dawn French, by Curtis and Paul Mayhew-Archer, with contributions from Kit Hesketh-Harvey. It aired from 1994 to 2007...
. It was originally broadcast on BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on the 10 November 1994.
Plot
In the isolated country village of Dibley, Reverend "Potty" Pottle of St. Barnabus Church suddenly dies (aged 102) during a service which consists of a mere handful of villagers, namely the local council. Afterward the council, consisting of David and Hugo Horton, Jim Trot, Frank Pickle, Mrs Cropley and Owen Newitt, desperately try to find a new Vicar and send a request off to the local bishopBishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
. The bishop sends a reply, promising to send his best vicar as soon as possible. The pompous, overbearing David Horton is thrilled and discusses the praises of this new "chap" that the bishop has promised them, and looks forward to getting Dibley back on its feet and putting more than a few locals in their place.
At the welcoming party thrown at Dibley manor, where the Horton father and son live, the council members gather and await the arrival of their new vicar. Suddenly a woman arrives on their doorstep and they - especially David - are shocked to see that "Gerry" is short for "Geraldine" not "Gerald" as they had first thought. The Reverend Gerladine Granger is a bubbly, vivacious woman who quickly befriends the locals although they remain uncertain at the thought of a woman vicar in their parish. David Horton is outraged at the notion and vows to have her ejected, intimidating the other council members into signing a letter that requests the bishop remove her from her position as soon as he can. Geraldine, on the other hand, is blissfully ignorant of David's dislike of her and his plans to get rid of her, and happily converses with the dim-witted verger
Verger
A verger is a person, usually a layman, who assists in the ordering of religious services, particularly in Anglican churches.-History:...
Alice Tinker as she explores the village.
At the next parish council meeting, David addresses the council members and claims that should they not agree with him and have Geraldine removed, they will become a national disgrace and the community will fall apart. No one has the nerve to challenge him and reluctantly agree. When Geraldine cheerfully arrives, David wants to make his feelings clear straight away and orders Frank to read the letter he has written to the bishop and forced the others to sign. After hearing the letter, Geraldine is deeply hurt and asks the village council is they really feel that way about her. Owen Newitt arrives and, after hearing the letter, is angered at David's rejection of Geraldine, claiming old Pottle was "a regular old woman anyway", and that it will be thrilling for them to have a woman vicar. David once again tries to take control by saying that a vote has already been passed and Geraldine must go, but Hugo, Frank, Jim and Mrs Cropley rebel, saying none of them voted for Geraldine's removal and that they side with Owen. Owen proposes that they give Geraldine a chance and let her see how she fares on Sunday
Sunday
Sunday is the day of the week between Saturday and Monday. For most Christians, Sunday is observed as a day for worship of God and rest, due to the belief that it is Lord's Day, the day of Christ's resurrection....
. All agree, except for David who is furious.
Sunday arrives and Geraldine performs a brilliant, lively service and gains the favour of the whole village. The council members tell her she will stay for good!
Cast
- Geraldine Granger - Dawn French
- David Horton - Gary WaldhornGary WaldhornGary Waldhorn is a veteran English actor, known for his role as David Horton in the sitcom The Vicar of Dibley, but who has also had a notable television and theatre career.-Theatre:...
- Hugo Horton - James FleetJames FleetJames Edward Fleet is an English actor. He is most famous for his roles as the bumbling and well-meaning Tom in the 1994 British romantic comedy film Four Weddings and a Funeral, and the dim-witted Hugo Horton in the BBC situation comedy television series The Vicar of Dibley.-Personal life:Fleet...
- Alice Tinker - Emma ChambersEmma ChambersEmma G. Chambers is an English actress. Her work includes the role Alice Tinker in the BBC comedy The Vicar of Dibley and Honey Thacker in the film Notting Hill .-Early life:...
- Letitia Cropley - Liz SmithLiz Smith (actress)Liz Smith, MBE is a British actress, best-known for her roles in the sitcoms The Vicar of Dibley and The Royle Family. She also appeared in the 2005 film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.-Early life:...
- Frank Pickle - John BluthalJohn BluthalJohn Bluthal is a Polish-born British film and television actor, mostly in comedy. He is best known for his work with Spike Milligan and for his roles in the television series Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width and The Vicar of Dibley.-Early life:Bluthal was born in Galicia, Poland, of Jewish...
- Jim Trott - Trevor PeacockTrevor PeacockTrevor Peacock is an English stage and television character actor. He was born in Tottenham, London, the son of Alexandria and Victor Edward Peacock.-Television and Film Career:...
- Owen Newitt - Roger Lloyd-Pack
- Rev. Pottle - Preston LockwoodPreston LockwoodPreston Lockwood was an English actor.He is best known for his television credits, including the role of Butterfield the butler in several episodes of Jeeves and Wooster...