6. The Vicar Of Dibley Winter (BBC One, 1999)
Geraldine is pushed to the brink of her patience directing the village Nativity play while Alice prepares for the birth of her first child. The best thing about this episode is how consistent it is. There are no lulls when there arent jokes or anything plot related going on. And, thanks to Richard Curtiss marvellous writing, almost every joke is a winner. The premise is pretty simple but Curtis manages to wring so much comedy out of it, especially since the rehearsals have Geraldine as pretty much the only sane person in the room, directing the villagers who (apart from snobbish district councillor David) are all complete lunatics. This episode also, for once, sees Alice actually having a good idea as she suggests staging the Nativity play on a farm. And its the play itself that is this episodes real highlight. Its simply an explosion of brilliant moments. The jokes are pretty rapid but it doesnt make them any less funny and it ends with quite a sweet scene that sees the villagers bond over Alice and Hugos newborn daughter who they name after Geraldine.
Best Moment: The Nativity play featuring Alice (playing the Virgin Mary) going into labour during the show, David attempting to make King Herod seem more likeable by handing out sweets to the children in the audience, and Jim and Owen (playing the shepherds) improvising dialogue about wanting to have sex with their sheep.