Vicar of Dibley legend who died tragically young and lodged with Ian McKellen

The Vicar of Dibley returns to our screens tonight (December 24) with the festive episode 'The Christmas Lunch Incident'.

Dawn French's beloved sitcom follows the mishaps of affable vicar Geraldine Granger and starred a host of British screen talent, including the late Emma Chambers, who played scatterbrained Alice Tinke.

The show aired between 1994 and 2007 and Emma's Alice was a key part in many an episode until her death meant her role had to sadly be written out.

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Tragically, Emma suffered a fatal heart attack in 2018 when she was just 53.

The actress, originally from Doncaster, packed a lot of screen credits into her CV before her sudden death.

In 1990 she appeared in two episodes of The Bill and later found worldwide fame through her role in 1999's Notting Hill.

Emma played the role of Honey Thacker, Hugh Grant's sister in the smash-hit romantic comedy.

Away from her acting, Emma married fellow thespian Ian Dunn who is most famous for roles in Coronation Street playing the role of Vinnie Powers from 2009 to 2010.

Speaking to The Independent in 2002, Alice recalled that her wedding day was 'very short' and took place without her dad for geographic reasons.

In his absence, she recalled that Ian McKellan who she had been living with stepped in, acting as a 'father figure'.

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She said: "My father wasn't there for personal and geographical reasons – he lived in Australia.

"But I had been living with Ian McKellen and he was a sort of father figure to me.

"We didn't have a honeymoon. I was back at work on Monday."

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