The Reverend Geraldine Granger (or Geraldine Julie Andrews Dick Van Dyke Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Chim Chiminey Chim Chiminey Chim Chim Cher-ee Granger, to give her full name) caused a bit of a stir when she turned up in Dibley.

For one thing, she wasn't a man. To make matters worse, she actively enjoyed life, which proved a bit much for the Parish Council at first. She's managed to win them over since then, although finding a decent boyfriend in Dibley continues to vex our chocolate-powered clergywoman.

Played by Dawn French

Dawn French shot to fame in the early 80s as a member of The Comic Strip. She and Jennifer Saunders, who met at drama school, joined the influential group after seeing an ad calling for "comediennes".

As she later explained, "We were the first creatures with boobs to walk through the door." Dawn became a household name thanks to the groundbreaking sketch show French and Saunders, and she's been Britain's best-loved female comics ever since (even if Catherine Tate is snapping at her heels).