Father Ted

In Tribute To Frank Kelly, who played Father Jack Hackett, who has died aged 77 on 28th February, 2016

The multi award winning Channel 4 sitcom: Father Ted ran for 25 episodes over 3 series.  It was produced by Hat Trick Productions especially for Channel 4.  As well as being very popular the series gained cult status and critical acclaim, raising the profile of many Irish actors and comedians.

Summary

The series follows the antics of three Roman Catholic Priests on their remote parish of Craggy Island.  Father Ted Crilly, Father Dougal McGuire and Father Jack Hackettt live together in Craggy Island’s priest house, along with their housekeeper Mrs Doyle, who is often wanting to serve them tea. The three priests answer to Bishop Len Brennan.

Bishop Brennan has assigned the three priests to Craggy Island parish due to different incidents in their past: Ted for alleged financial impropriety, Dougal for something only referred to as the “Blackrock Incident” (resulting in many “lives irreparably damaged”), and Jack 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 games of one-upmanship gainst his arch-nemesis, Father Dick Byrne of the nearby Rugged Island parish.

Clips

Cast

Father Ted – Dermot Morgan
Father Dougal McGuire – Ardal O’Hanlon
Father Jack Hackett – Frank Kelly
Mrs Doyle – Pauline Mclyn

Details

Channel: Channel 4
Created By: Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews
Produced By: Hat Trick Productions
Originally Broadcast: 21 April 1995 – 1 May 1998