Vicar of Dibley star tragically passes away at 53

The much loved actress Emma Chambers - who starred as the Vicar of Dibley's dippy verger - has died at the age of 53.

She was best known for playing Alice Tinker in the BBC's gentle sit-com, written by Richard Curtis, about a female vicar and her eccentric parishioners.

Her agent John Grant said Ms Chambers, who also starred in the 1999 film Notting Hill with Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts, died from natural causes on Wednesday evening and would be "greatly missed".

Mr Grant added: "Emma created a wealth of characters and an immense body of work. She brought laughter and joy to many".

Her Notting Hill co-star Hugh Grant led tributes to the star, tweeting: "Emma Chambers was a hilarious and very warm person and of course a brilliant actress. Very sad news."

Fans of The Vicar of Dibley expressed their sadness at Ms Chamber's death, describing her as an "amazingly talented and hilarious actress who lit up people's televisions" and a "comic genius".

Co-writer of the sitcom actor Paul Mayhew-Archer, 65, hailed her "amazing" talents.
"I loved working with her, she was stunning. I am devastated, she was a key part of the Vicar of Dibley,"he said.

"I used to love watching her going over her lines in rehearsal, she would read them to herself and try to find the perfect delivery.

"Alice became completely central to the piece, it was just perfect.

"Most sitcoms have an idiot of some sort but she managed to make her idiot completely different, it was amazing.

NZ Herald