How Dawn French was 'bullied' into starring in new BBC sitcom

Simon Mayhew-Archer on Can You Keep A Secret

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Dawn French hasn't done a sitcom in a while and wasn't planning to star in one anytime soon, either.

But when the Vicar of Dibley star got a phone call from Paul Mayhew-Archer - a co-writer on the classic BBC One sitcom - she was “bullied” into joining the cast of Can You Keep a Secret?

“I definitely didn’t want to do a sitcom, that’s for absolute sure,” admits French, now 68.

“I got a phone call from Paul, who bullied me and said that [son] Simon had written a script. He said, ‘I know I shouldn't do this. I'm supposed to go by your agent and everything, but I’ve got Parkinson’s, I’m old now, and it’s my son you met all those years ago, who has written something with you in mind’.

“He asked if I could read it. I couldn't hide behind my agent or give a flat no. So I agreed I’ll have a read and make embarrassing notes about why I can’t do it.”

The new six-part comedy series, based on Paul Mayhew-Archer and his wife Julie Mayhew-Archer, follows widow Debbie Fendon, played by French, who makes an impromptu decision after her husband William, played by Mark Heap, 68, dies unexpectedly.