Father Ted Crilly (Dermot Morgan), Father Dougal Maguire (Ardal O'Hanlon) and Father Jack Hackett (Frank Kelly) live together on remote Craggy Island. They were banished there by Bishop Len Brennan (Jim Norton) due to their various character defects and misdemeanours. The priests share a parochial house with their housekeeper Mrs Doyle (Pauline McLynn).
Written by Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews, this was a slow burner, but developed into one of Channel 4's finest sitcoms. First shown in 1995, it took a while for the surreal comedy to settle, but it found form during the first series, and began to build a cult following. Always an acquired taste, things became more bizarre during the second and third series.
Most of the episodes are strong, but The Passion of St Tibulus and Competition Time (first series), Hell, Tentacles of Doom, Song for Europe and The Plague (second series), and Speed 3, The Mainland, Escape from Victory and Kicking Bishop Brennan up the Arse (third series) are sublime.
Sadly Dermot Morgan died suddenly, aged 45, just as the third series was about to air. The show remains a fitting tribute to his comedy genius.
Sitcom
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