Dawn French says the emotional Vicar Of Dibley tribute to Alice Tinker was also a message to tragic co-star Emma Chambers.
Emma, who played ditsy Alice in the BBC favourite, died of a heart attack in February 2018 aged just 53 years old.
The pair were very close off the screen as well and heartbroken fans watched the show's bite-sized return without Geraldine Granger's absent-minded best friend.
Now Dawn has opened up about filming without her pal.
Speaking to Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford on This Morning, the actress said: "I was just a blubbering mess, we miss her so much.
"We haven’t had an opportunity to say goodbye to her properly and this was her chance.
"The one that eventually made it to screen was the one with the least crying.
"The great thing about Vicar Of Dibley, it can be silly and funny but it can also address issues of the day - it can be very current, and warm and understanding about our grief."
Dawn added: "When Emma left us, we made sure character also died.
"Everyone knew Emma died, in my tribute to her it was Geraldine talking about Alice but it was also dawn talking about Emma - which is why I had to do several takes, I was just a mess!"
Vicar Geraldine said it had been three years since the character died of cancer.
She explained: "Who is the person I've most loved in my life? Well I'm very fond of my handsome husband, but in the end it's got to be her. My own darling dumb blonde.
"She had one husband, six children and three brain cells. But so much love in her heart she could defrost a frozen pizza on a winter's day.
"She wasn't the brightest bulb in the box but when we lost her, all our lights went out."
The comedian, 63, took to Twitter last week to share a beautiful black and white image of her and Emma.
Her photo had been taken during the days when they starred in the BBC One sitcom together, which originally aired from 1994 to 2000.
"Miss her. And all those we've lost..." Dawn captioned the funny photo.
