Dawn French re-marries in a secret seaside wedding

Dawn French re-married in a secret seaside ceremony in Cornwall at the weekend.

517631872552e

by Closer staff |
Published on

The 55 year-old Vicar of Dibley star married 49 year-old Mark Bignell at Fowey Hall, near Dawn’s home in the small seaside town.

Dawn French has married Mark Bignell
Dawn French has married Mark Bignell

‘Dawn looked beautiful and didn’t stop smiling all day’

The intimate wedding was reportedly attended by around 70 guests, and a source told a UK newspaper: ‘Dawn looked beautiful and didn’t stop smiling all day.’

Dawn and Mark’s reception, attended by around 100 guests, reportedly featured a firework display on the beach below the hotel with red sparklers forming a heart around the letters D and M.

According to the newspaper, Dawn rented out the Scarlet Hotel near Newquay for the celebrations which were attended by her long-standing comedy partner Jennifer Saunders, comedienne Sue Perkins, actress Kathy Burke and screenwriter Richard Curtis.

Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders Comic Relief

Dawn’s adopted daughter Billie, from her previous 25-year marriage to comedian Lenny Henry, is said to have sung at the wedding - along with 1980s hit singer Alison Moyet.

The comedienne’s new husband Mark, who has been married himself twice before, is the chief executive of a charity founded by Dawn’s late mother which helps recovering drug and alcohol abusers reintegrate into society.

Dawn has previously said that she 'started to claim [her] life back' after meeting Mark, who she has been dating since last January.

Dawn French and previous husband Lenny Henry

Speaking after her divorce in 2010 on a radio show, she said: 'I thought oh god, what do I do now? Do I have to do dating? How repulsive. I'll have to buy new pants.

'I did do some dating and it was excruciating and difficult as I'm not an accomplished flirter.

'Then, bang, I met somebody else. I started to claim my life back. It's a life with him.’

But according to Dawn, her new husband had no idea who she was when they met.

She said: 'I'm not boasting, but you'd actually have to have not watched television for the past 20 years to have avoided me, and he'd managed to do just that'

Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us