Vicar of Dibley actor Trevor Peacock dies aged 89

Trevor Peacock, who played Jim Trott in The Vicar of Dibley, has died at the age of 89. Peacock who appeared in many British shows, from EastEnders to Jonathan Creek, had dementia.

A statement on behalf of his family said: “Trevor Peacock, actor, writer and song-writer, died aged 89 on the morning of 8 March from a dementia-related illness.”

Peacock, who was also a prolific stage actor and screenwriter in the 1950s and 60s, was last seen on TV in the 2015 Comic Relief special of the Dawn French’s hugely popular BBC sitcom.

Peacock appeared in every episode of the Richard Curtis show since it began in 1994, apart from the recent Christmas special. Trott, his character, was a member of the Dibley Parish Council, perhaps most remembered for his repetition of the word “no” and his frequent use of sexual innuendo.

Born in north London in 1931, Peacock began his TV career in the 1960s in the ITV Television Playhouse, Comedy Playhouse and The Wednesday Play. He went on to play Rouault in Madame Bovary and Quilp in The Old Curiosity Shop, and made appearances in The Bill and the sitcom My Family. In 2007, he played the father of Father Christmas in the film Fred Claus, alongside Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti.

Peacock was also an accomplished songwriter and wrote a number of hit songs including the 1960s track Mrs Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter, by Herman’s Hermits and Mystery Girl, recorded by Jess Conrad, as well as the lyrics for a number of hits by the Vernons Girls.

Peacock had four children, two daughters and two sons –both of whom, Daniel and Harry, followed him into acting, the former appearing in Only Fools and Horses as “Mental Mickey” and the latter as Ray Purchase in Toast of London.