MovieChat Forums > The Vicar of Dibley (1994) Discussion > Why was Leticia Cropley killed off?

Why was Leticia Cropley killed off?

posted 15 years ago by dcolp
11 replies | jump to latest

Does anyone know why they killed off Leticia Cropley after seven episodes? I thought she was the funniest character on the council. The decision to kill her off never made sense. I once read an interview with Liz Smith, and she said that it was a total surprise to her. She said that she got her script for the next week, and started reading it, and was shocked to find out her character was to die in that episode. She claimed she had no idea why this was decided.

[–] prterry 15 years ago

I heard (and this is just hearsay) that Dawn French didn't like her, and had her killed off. Liz hasn't been too lucky in that respect; she got killed off in "The Royale Family" and again in "Larkrise to Candleford" (which also had Dawn French in it!).

Paul

[–] teamericteamjacobteamsawyer 15 years ago

It's sad when she's killed off in this but when her character died in The Royale Family I bawled my eyes out - still can't watch it now without crying, it's awful because nothing makes me cry usually.

...she said, 'Walk on over to this bit of shade; I will wrap you in my arms.'...

[–] euro4569 15 years ago

That is the thing with these liberal "minded" spokes people to campaign for various causes, preaches tolerance, etc, then come to find out, that they are just the opposite of what they preach...hypocrites. Dawn is a good actress and I like her to bits but, she is just like the others who go around preaching how we should love everyone and everything in the world then goes and stabs someone in the back.

[–] laurence01 15 years ago

The statements about Dawn French are rubbish. This is what happened. Liz Smith's agent demanded more money (against Liz's wishes). The program said no and wrote her out. She then sacked her agent.

[–] EllenRipley47 14 years ago

I can see that happening. I didn't really think Dawn would/could've had her character killed off. On TV the writer doesn't HAVE to do anything they don't want to. They pretty much have the final say.

Dogs have owners, cats have staff.

[–] PoppyTransfusion 8 years ago

when her character died in The Royale Family I bawled my eyes out

Me too. That was done so well.

I'm scared of the middle place between light and nowhere

[–] ThreadPoison 13 years ago

She was also killed off in "Keeping Mum"

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] laurence01 13 years ago

She was "Mrs Parker"

[–] velcronewsletter 10 years ago

was it really only 7 episodes she was in? that's a shame, she deserved to be on there more

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To Spamalot or not to Spamalot?

[–] SealordJohn 8 years ago

Although I do enjoy watching this program, I do not like the fact that the Leticia Cropley character was killed off after only a few episodes. I loved hearing her comments at the church board meetings and enjoyed watching her serve her home prepared foods with the unusual ingredients.

One poster claims she was let go so early as a result of Dawn French's influence and yet another claims it was as a result of Liz Smith's agent. I don't know which to believe. But at http://forums.frenchandsaunders.co.uk/board/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7432, Liz Smith supposedly stated that she might have not been easy to work with.