4:44min The unmarried Rev Geraldine Granger (Dawn French) is about to officiate at her 100th wedding. “It’s tough doing weddings if you’re single,” admits the Rev Stephen Leader.

5:20min Alice (Emma Chambers) is convinced that The Da Vinci Code is a new book of the Bible, reducing the Rev Georgina Heskins and Canon Graham Corneck to hysterics. “We’re not under any illusions about the Church being perfect, but whether it’s riven with corruption as it is in The Da Vinci Code, I don’t know,” says Georgina. “I don’t see God dropping dead because somebody thinks she’s Mary Magdalene,” adds Graham.

7:10min Geraldine visits Harry, a hunky newcomer to Dibley. Stephen approves: “The Church isn’t just about services – it’s about doing good in the community.”

14:08min Oblivious to Geraldine’s profession, Harry makes some coarse ecclesiastical jokes. “When I don’t wear a dog collar I get the same thing,” Stephen says.

18:42min Geraldine’s struggles to find time to see Harry strike a chord with Georgina. “Graham and I did our courting while we were both in the clergy and I can remember giving the youth group short shrift so I could get away and see him.” Did Graham feel constrained by being in the clergy? “Unfortunately, I didn’t feel constrained at all.”

22:16min Nobody in Geraldine’s book group has read the book.

“We have plenty of discussion groups where that happens,” Georgina admits. “We had one where you had to bring a bottle if you’d not read the book and it turned into a very drunken evening.”

27:24min “Jesus Christ!” shrieks Geraldine. “That’s twice she’s blasphemed,” Stephen tuts. “We have a notice which says: ‘Jesus Christ is a prayer word not a swear word.’ ” Graham admits to swearing on occasion. “I don’t say ‘f***’ and I hate the word ‘p***’ but I do say ‘b****cks’.

31:21min Guffaws from Graham and Georgina as Alice asks Geraldine whether Harry has “parked his purple Porsche in your garage”. Stephen says: “People often ask me about sex before marriage, and I say it’s fine as long as you’re not late for the service.”

35:39min Geraldine spots Harry with another woman, and turns to the Bible. “There’s a lot of going there after difficult stuff,” observes Georgina.

35:48min The Bible contains an emergency bar of chocolate. “Well, she did read a page first,” reasons Stephen.

37:44min Geraldine dreams of Harry marrying the mystery woman. “Funerals are more amusing than weddings,” insists Stephen. “The hymns people choose! One of the most amusing songs starts “There may be trouble ahead”, but the number one, if it’s a crematorium, is Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.”

46:40min The doorbell rings for the umpteenth time. “They got that right – people arrive at all times of the day and night,” Georgian confirms. “There is that notion that we are public property,” Stephen adds.

49:39min Harry proposes to Geraldine. “God bless her!” beams Graham.

VERDICT

Our panel thought the show was acutely observed and well researched, and that it helped to dismantle stereotypes of the clergy, with Georgina particularly grateful for “the amazing job” it has done in making female vicars acceptable. It was “essentially about love and forgiveness,” said Stephen approvingly. “And fun!” added Graham, quoting John x, 10: “I have come to give you life in all its abundance.”

The Vicar of Dibley: Holy Wholly Happy Ending is out to buy on DVD. Interview by Ed Potton

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