Beloved British comedy icon Dawn French is making a major return to the sitcom world, two decades after her last stint as The Vicar of Dibley, in the BBC's darkly hilarious new series Can You Keep a Secret?
From Reluctance to Enthusiasm: How the Script Won Her Over
Despite her legendary status in British comedy, French admitted she was initially hesitant about ever starring in another sitcom. She told Metro.co.uk that she had to be "bullied" into reading the script by Paul Mayhew-Archer, her writer from The Vicar of Dibley. "I was nervous about it really, because I wasn't really looking for a sitcom," she shared, expressing scepticism that a good sitcom script from a younger writer was rare.
However, her reluctance vanished upon reading the material. The series is penned by Simon Mayhew-Archer, Paul's son, and French found an immediate connection. "I knew what he was writing about – his dad – who I know well. I thought it had beautiful heart in it, as well as being really funny," she explained, praising the minimal, family-focused dynamic of the show.
A Morally Dubious Plot with Real-Life Inspiration
The six-part series, which begins on Sunday, January 7 at 9.30pm on BBC One, places French at the centre of a deliciously twisted premise. She plays Debbie Fendon, a widow whose hermit-like husband William (played by Mark Heap) is unexpectedly declared dead while they watch TV.
Months later, when a £250,000 life insurance payout arrives, Debbie is forced to confess to their anxious son Harry (Craig Roberts) the shocking truth: William is alive. A series of unfortunate events led to the mistaken death declaration, and faced with the life-changing money, Debbie chose silence.
Both French and Heap drew inspiration from real-life cases of faked deaths, notably referencing "The Canoe Man" story of John Darwin from 2002. "People do die and then they aren't dead. It's a fact," Heap remarked, while French quipped, "Just look at Romeo and Juliet and what happened there!"
Despite the clear fraud at the story's core, the actors believe audiences will root for the couple. "It's a fine line between fraud and justice," French mused, explaining her character feels owed the money. Heap added, "It's a weakness we've all got... if you could justify it because of a nasty insurance company…"
Future Projects and Reunion Talks with Jennifer Saunders
With filming wrapped, French has been working on her latest novel. Inevitably, conversation turned to the potential of reuniting with her legendary comedy partner, Jennifer Saunders. The duo, who last had their sketch show on air in 2017, remain in touch but are, by French's own admission, "quite lazy."
"We come up with ideas, and then we forget to talk about it again," she confessed. She clarified that any future joint project would simply be an excuse to spend more time together. "We've agreed that we'd like to – but we just don't know what it is," she concluded, leaving the door firmly open for fans of French and Saunders.
Can You Keep a Secret? promises a mix of brilliant one-liners and complex family dynamics, marking a triumphant and long-awaited sitcom return for one of Britain's best-loved comic actors.
