Father Ted

Father Ted is a situation comedy television programme produced by Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4. The show depicts the lives of three Irish Catholic priests on the remote fictional Craggy Island off the west coast of Ireland. It ran for three series, totalling 25 episodes, between 21 April 1995 and 1 May 1998 on the UK's Channel 4. Father Ted was written by two Irish writers, Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, who also co-created Big Train. All of the interior scenes were shot at The London Studios and all of the location footage was shot in Ireland.

Synopsis

The show follows the exploits of three Roman Catholic priests who preside over a parish on Craggy Island, located off the west coast of Ireland. Father Ted Crilly, Father Dougal McGuire and the retired Father Jack Hackett live together in Craggy Island's parochial house, along with their housekeeper Mrs Doyle, who is often wanting to serve them tea. The three priests answer to Bishop Len Brennan, who assigned them the Craggy Island parish due to different incidents in their past: Father Crilly for alleged financial impropriety, Father McGuire for his incompetence from the "Blackrock Incident", and Father Hackett for his alcoholism and womanising. The show revolves around the priests' lives on Craggy Island, sometimes dealing with matters of the church but more often dealing with Father Ted's schemes to either resolve a situation with the parish or other Craggy Island residents, or to win gambling bets placed with Father Dick Byrne of the nearby Rugged Island parish.

Father Ted

Father Ted - S03E08 - Going to America

Ted gets the opportunity of a lifetime, but can't bring himself to break it to the others that they're not invited. The title is a pun on the movie Coming to America. Musician and artist Brian Eno appears as "Father Brian Eno" at the "It's Great Being a Priest!" convention. The episode ends with a montage containing one clip from every previous episode, in reverse order.

Father Ted - S03E08 - Going to America

Father Ted - S03E07 - Night of the Nearly Dead

The visit of a young daytime TV presenter, Eoin McLove, causes excitement for the island's aging females. The title is a pun on the movie Night of the Living Dead. Eoin McLove is a parody of Daniel O'Donnell, an Irish crooner particularly popular among elderly women.

Father Ted - S03E07 - Night of the Nearly Dead

Father Ted - S03E06 - Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse

The only episode to follow on directly from the previous one. Exposed as a cheat at the end of the previous episode, and with this episode's title as his forfeit, a terrified Ted tries to draw upon his courage to complete the deed.

Father Ted - S03E06 - Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse

Father Ted - S03E05 - Escape from Victory

Ted takes great steps to ensure he wins a bet with Dick Byrne on the outcome of the All-Priests Over-75's Five-a-Side Football Championship. The title is a pun on the football movie Escape to Victory, about a football game played between prisoners of war and their guards in World War II.

Father Ted - S03E05 - Escape from Victory

Father Ted - S03E04 - The Mainland

Ted, Dougal, Jack and Mrs. Doyle all have different adventures on the mainland. Richard Wilson guest-stars as himself.

Father Ted - S03E04 - The Mainland

Father Ted - S03E03 - Speed 3

When Ted and Dougal expose a philandering milkman, Pat Mustard, he takes revenge on his replacement, Dougal, by putting a bomb on the milk float. If Dougal's speed drops below 4 mph...

Father Ted - S03E03 - Speed 3

Father Ted - S03E02 - Chirpy Burpy Cheap Sheep

Ted makes a large bet on the King of the Sheep competition. Unfortunately, Chris, his chosen sheep, has heard rumours about a sheep-eating beast and isn't feeling at all himself. The title is a parody of the 1970s song "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" by Middle of the Road.

Father Ted - S03E02 - Chirpy Burpy Cheap Sheep

Father Ted - S03E01 - Are you right there, Father Ted

Ted's "Chinaman" impression goes down badly with Craggy Island's newly-arrived Chinese community and he is branded a racist. A spot of dirt on the front window of the parochial house later leads him into more bother.

Father Ted - S03E01 - Are you right there, Father Ted

Father Ted - Special - Christmassy Father Ted

Ted's quick thinking whilst lost in a department store's lingerie department earns him the coveted Golden Cleric award. So why doesn't he feel happy? Mrs. Doyle's attempts to hang up the Christmas decorations become undone around her. She's also none too pleased at her Christmas present. When first shown, this hour-long episode attracted Channel 4's largest ever non-film audience viewing figures.

Father Ted - Special - Christmassy Father Ted

Father Ted - S02E10 - Flight into Terror

A flight back from a pilgrimage runs out of fuel and there are only two parachutes. Meanwhile Jack discovers a supply of alcohol in the luggage compartment of the plane. Only one man can save the passengers...

Father Ted - S02E10 - Flight into Terror

Father Ted - S02E09 - New Jack City

Jack's hairy hands get him sent to an old priests' home. Unfortunately his replacement, played by Irish comedian Brendan Grace, is much worse. An avid fan of jungle music, he doesn't take kindly to the other inhabitants of the parochial house. The title is taken from the movie New Jack City.

Father Ted - S02E09 - New Jack City

Father Ted - S02E08 - Cigarettes and Alcohol

In a game of one-upmanship with Dick Byrne, Ted decides the three priests must give something up for Lent. The title is taken from that of an Oasis song, "Cigarettes and Alcohol".

Father Ted - S02E08 - Cigarettes and Alcohol

Father Ted - S02E07 - Rock-a-Hula Ted

A feminist singer (a parody of Sinéad O'Connor) visits the island just when Ted is judging the annual Lovely Girls competition, a parody of Ireland's Rose of Tralee festival.

Father Ted - S02E07 - Rock-a-Hula Ted

Father Ted - S02E06 - The Plague

The parochial house is infested by rabbits, just as the very rabbit-phobic Bishop Brennan plans a visit.

Father Ted - S02E06 - The Plague

Father Ted - S02E05 - A Song for Europe

Ted is goaded by Father Dick Byrne into attempting to write a song for "Eurosong '96" (spoof of the Eurovision Song Contest). Despite having a song with only one note, Ireland's fear of winning again (and having to fund it) plays into Ted and Dougal's hands. This mirrors the real life belief that Ireland chose the 1994 Eurovision entry, "Rock 'n' Roll Kids", which was thought to differ greatly to the typical winning song, so as to ensure they did not have to host the contest again. (Ironically, Ireland did indeed win the Eurovision in 1996, for the 4th time in 5 years).

Father Ted - S02E05 - A Song for Europe

Father Ted - S02E04 - Old Grey Whistle Theft

Dougal starts hanging around with a rebellious priest, Father Damo Lennon. Meanwhile a valuable whistle is stolen. The title is a pun on the BBC music show "The Old Grey Whistle Test"

Father Ted - S02E04 - Old Grey Whistle Theft

Father Ted - S02E03 - Tentacles of Doom

Three bishops visit the island. A worried Ted gives Jack elocution lessons beforehand. "That would be an ecumenical matter"

Father Ted - S02E03 - Tentacles of Doom

Father Ted - S02E02 - Think Fast, Father Ted

When Ted holds a raffle, he destroys the prize - a new car. The title is a play on the novel "Think Fast, Mr. Moto", by John P. Marquand and the film of the same title starring Peter Lorre. This episode was originally a Series 1 episode, but was scrapped because the beginning (...Father Ted) was becoming repetitive.

Father Ted - S02E02 - Think Fast, Father Ted

Father Ted - S02E01 - Hell

Ted, Dougal and Jack take their annual holiday and encounter Father Noel Furlong (played by Graham Norton)

Father Ted - S02E01 - Hell