Vicar of Dibley star Dawn French admits her 'grief is reignited'

(Image credit: David M. Benett)

published 21 June 20

TV star Dawn French has opened up about experiencing grief.

Dawn made the admission on Twitter after admitting she has loved the return of Big Brother, but is struggling to comprehend it being over all over again.

The iconic reality TV show launched 20 years ago this year and hosts Davina McCall and Rylan Clark-Neal have been doing a run down of all the most iconic moments in Big Brother: Best Shows Ever over the past week.

And Dawn - who has been a fan of the show for years - tweeted, "Thank you @ThisisDavina @Rylan @EmmaWillis @radioleary @bbuk for this wonderful walk down #BBUK memory lane. Smiling face with heart-shaped eyesBUT. Now my grief is reignited. THANKS."

Thankfully fans reassured the comedian that there are five more episodes still to air this week.

As well as reminiscing over Big Brother, Dawn is using her time in lockdown to be grateful for her beautiful home in Cornwall, 14 years after leaving London.

And Dawn’s desire to slow down and appreciate the small things is certainly reflected in her social media posts.

After years of gruelling TV schedules filming The Vicar of Dibley and French and Saunders, Dawn’s priorities have changed in life and the comedy actress now craves the “quiet” life.

“I am enjoying the place I’m in,” she said two years ago. “I realise I’m right there in autumn and I can’t see the point in resisting it. This is what 60 looks like.”

Dawn felt “broken” following the breakdown of her 25-year marriage to Lenny Henry ten years ago and recently said she still “grieves” for their marriage.

“I have mended myself. I have seen what happens if you stay broken. When I was single I found my new self. But I think it is OK to grieve over a relationship.”

Dawn has since re-married to Mark Bignell, 54, and the pair live in Cornwall so she can be close to where her family once lived.

“I find quiet there. I have been noisy all my life and loved it but essentially I am a quiet person,” she admitted.

“I’ve gone back to where my family are. The sense of my mum is there and that is home for me.”

Georgia Farquharson

Georgia writes across Woman & Home and Good to Know and specialises in all things royal. Previously labelled the "Queen of the royals," Georgia knows the whose who and what's what when it comes to the monarchy. When she's not eagerly following the royal family, Georgia enjoys shopping and self-care. She lives with this motto in mind; "if your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough."