Dawn French is still "reeling" from the death of her ‘Vicar of Dibley’ co-star Emma Chambers.
The 60-year-old comic became good friends with Emma throughout their tenure as Reverend Geraldine Granger and the Verger Alice Horton over the course of 20 episodes of the beloved sitcom from 1994 to 2001.
Dawn admits Emma’s shock death February at the age of just 53 came as a huge shock and she still hasn’t come to terms with the loss.
In an interview on ITV morning show ‘Lorraine’, she said: "This has been a very shocking and sad loss. Far too young and I think we’re all still reeling a little bit from it. My memories of working with Emma are some of my most favourite memories of my whole career. She’s a massively diligent person, much unlike Alice. She was incredibly bright. Very funny, very knowing and yet she was able to play someone who was in a different world. She didn’t play a simpleton, she played someone who had a different reality. She was incredibly authentic at that and I will miss that.
"I have to tell you Lorraine, to play a clown in a way like that, it takes a lot of hard work. You have to learn things very particularly. She did it really well, really well."
Emma passed away from a heart attack, possibly related to her allergies, and in the wake of her death Dawn was one of the first people to pay tribute to her.
The ‘Delicious’ actress said: "Emma was a very bright spark and the most loyal and loving friend anyone could wish for. I will miss her very much."
The ‘French and Saunders’ star recently recalled how bad Emma’s allergies were and she could remember one day on the set of ‘The Vicar of Dibley’ when the actress’ face "ballooned up" during a scene with some farmyard animals, but despite the seriousness of the reaction Emma and her castmates were able to see the funny side of the incident.
Dawn remembered: "I felt sorry for her when we had to do the scene with animals. She was allergic to everything. It was a nightmare day, and her whole face just ballooned up, but it was funny."
Dawn French still ‘reeling’ over the death of Emma Chambers
