'Dibley' cast reunites for Comic Relief special

LONDON, March 14 (UPI) -- The cast of the British sitcom "The Vicar of Dibley" has reunited for the first time in seven years for a 10-minute Comic Relief special, star Dawn French said.

The short will air during the "Funny for Money" fundraising program on BBC One Friday.

"Viewers should watch this sketch because it's the first time we've been together for ages, so everyone can witness the rapid deterioration of us all," the BBC quoted French, who plays the titular minister, as saying. "I don't want to give too much away about the sketch, but the Vicar heads up the fight for equality in church law."

"Homeland" lead actor Damien Lewis said he was happy to guest star in the "Dibley" short.

"Some of my favorite actors are in 'The Vicar of Dibley' and I grew up watching them on the TV," Lewis said. "Filming this has been a bit like filming on stage. We've rehearsed it a bit like you would if you were doing theater because we shot it so quickly. It's got a lovely atmosphere to it."

"The Vicar of Dibley" follows the adventures of the quirky members of a parish council in rural Dibley. The show ran from 1994 to 2007 and wrapped with the Vicar's storybook wedding to handsome accountant Harry, played by Richard Armitage.

The sitcom's cast also includes Emma Chambers, Roger Lloyd-Pack and James Fleet.