Father Ted (1995–1998)

Crazy sitcom about 3 priests and their housekeeper who live on Craggy Island, not the peaceful and quiet part of Ireland it seems!

Stars:

Dermot Morgan, Ardal O'Hanlon, Frank Kelly

15 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Dermot Morgan	...	Father Ted Crilly (25 episodes, 1995-1998)
Ardal O'Hanlon	...	Father Dougal Mcguire (25 episodes, 1995-1998)
Frank Kelly	...	Father Jack Hackett (25 episodes, 1995-1998)
Pauline McLynn	...	Mrs. Doyle (25 episodes, 1995-1998)

Storyline

Have mercy on poor Father Ted Crilly. He has so much to contend with when it comes to dealing with the folks of Craggy Island, Ireland. There's Father Dougal McGuire, who is as dimwitted as they come; and then there is Father Jack Hackett who lives for the simple pleasures of life (sleeping, drinking, and swearing). Ted tries to bring stability to his congregation as well as the surreal townspeople of Craggy Island.

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Plot Keywords:

island | ireland | priest | housekeeper | sitcom | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Official Sites:

Channel 4

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 April 1995 (UK)

Also Known As:

Isä Ted

Filming Locations:

Betchworth Quarry, Betchworth, Reigate, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hat Trick Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min 25 min (24 episodes) 50 min (1 episode)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The "Ferrero Rocher gag" pokes fun at a commercial that became something of an icon in 1990s Britain: we see a glitzy party in a beautiful reception room, beautiful women in expensive dresses, dashing men in evening dress. Through the throng we see a uniformed butler - he looks to his master (we presume) who nods. The butler then carries a silver salve loaded with a pyramid of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, which the party guests are invited to share. Widespread approval among the guests, one of whom says to the butler's master: "Ambassador, with these FR you are really spoiling us". Father Ted itself inspired a far less successful advert for the British Government's HM Inland Revenue. In order to promote the Revenue's new self-assessment scheme, Pauline McLynn revisited her role as Mrs. Doyle trying to entice the viewer to go on line to make their tax return - involving her saying "go on, go on, go on, go on....go on line! Go on line, go on line, go on line...." In an opinion poll in the UK it was voted as the most annoying ad of the year.

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Quotes

Father Ted: How long has Father Jack been living in there?
Father Dougal: Uh, he started just a few days after you left.
Father Ted: Maybe he's agoraphobic?
Father Dougal: Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so Ted.

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Crazy Credits

The first episode of the second season begins with the usual credits, but instead of Father Ted, the title reads: Father Ben. It then cuts to Dougal sitting in front of the TV, watching Father Ben. Ted comes in and makes fun of the character of Father Ben, saying he has no self-awareness at all. It then cuts to the normal credits.

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Connections

Featured in Men About the House (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Songs of Love"
(title music)
Written by Neil Hannon
Performed by The Divine Comedy

User Reviews

Ah, go on, go on, go on ...

Where to begin in praise of Father Ted? This hilarious Irish comedy about three dysfunctional priests and their crazy tea-obsessed housekeeper came from nowhere to light up the Channel 4 schedules in 1995. Then it was critically slammed but gained a viewer following right from episode one, where Dougal thought a spider baby was real.

Episodes to come featured boring Father Paul, mad Father Noel, gloating Father Dick Byrne, accident-prone Father Larry, and the permanently bewildered Bishop Brennan. But it was the core quartet of characters that kept you watching - Father Ted himself, the much missed Dermot Morgan; drunken and obscene Father Jack, Frank Kelly; vacant Father Dougal, Ardal O'Hanlon (who hasn't done much of interest since - 'My Hero' was awful); and Mrs Doyle, Pauline McLynn.

Too many happy moments to list here but if you haven't seen this, prepare for a laugh. Life is never without incident on Craggy Island!