The Father Ted Appreciation Thread

[Hulohot]

For anyone who missed this last night.

Small, Far Away - The World of Father Ted

On the 15th anniversary of its launch, this documentary follows Father Ted creators Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews as they return to Craggy Island on a road trip across Ireland, taking them back to some of the key filming locations from the series.

Father Ted captured a specific Irish humour rarely seen on screen and its impact doesn't seem to have faded. The show is revealed as a product of a pair of ambitious writers, a brilliant cast and the gently confident producer Geoffrey Perkins, whose suggestion of turning a one-off mock documentary into a sitcom helped make it the much-loved show it is today.

Ardal O'Hanlon, Frank Kelly, Graham Norton and many others pitch in with their reminiscences of the show, the passion it inspired and their memories of the late, great Dermot Morgan.

Didn't know that was on

[Saint of Killers]

I knew it was on but assumed it'd just be old episodes being shown again, it was only after bothering to double check the documentary on the EPG that I realised what it was.

[Dolph Wiggler]

Just watched the documentary on 4od. Brilliant, and very touching stuff especially regarding Dermot Morgan. The fact that the actor who played Bishop Brennan still couldn't watch the 'Kicking Bishop Brennan up the arse' episode really choked me up.

I also didn't know he died literally straight after the last day of filming.

[~Earl Grey~]

Just watched the documentary on 4od. Brilliant, and very touching stuff especially regarding Dermot Morgan. The fact that the actor who played Bishop Brennan still couldn't watch the 'Kicking Bishop Brennan up the arse' episode really choked me up.

Why not?

[Dolph Wiggler]

Just watched the documentary on 4od. Brilliant, and very touching stuff especially regarding Dermot Morgan. The fact that the actor who played Bishop Brennan still couldn't watch the 'Kicking Bishop Brennan up the arse' episode really choked me up.

Why not?

He said that he had such a great time filming that episode with Dermot Morgan that it was still very painful to watch after all these years.

[chalkitdown]

I too watched the documentary today and it was absolutely brilliant from start to finish. Pauline McGlynn is such a bitch for not wanting to be a part of it. Really shitty of her.

[Frank]

Just watching it now. Frank Kelly looks nothing like Jack until those teeth go in

[SEP]

Just watching it now. Frank Kelly looks nothing like Jack until those teeth go in

Weird, isn't it?

[Something Fishy]

We just watched it. Excellent stuff.

[Frank]

Just watching it now. Frank Kelly looks nothing like Jack until those teeth go in

Weird, isn't it?

He's got a much posher voice than I thought he would have, too. It's pretty crazy.

I knew I recognised that Arthur chap's voice, too. According to IMDb, he was Father Ben, and the "Fupp off!" guy at the picnic.

EOIN MCLOVE LOOKS EXACTLY THE SAME!

[hideous_enigma]

I too watched the documentary today and it was absolutely brilliant from start to finish. Pauline McGlynn is such a bitch for not wanting to be a part of it. Really shitty of her.

Some of you were wondering why I didn’t take part in the documentary on Father Ted last night. I am utterly proud of that show and I love it still (and Mrs Doyle). I’ll watch it any time it’s on and I laugh out loud at it – in fact I did just that last night and can I say that the Hairy Babies episode, as chosen by viewers, is probably my favourite too. Anyhow, I have spoken at length over the years about the show and really didn’t think I had anything more to add to that – there’s piles of archive footage out there of me telling stories about it and the behind the scenes laughs and so on. On top of which I have such happy memories of Ted that to have gone down the West without Dermot (Morgan) and Geoffrey (Perkins) would have been too sad. And I didn’t think any documentary could be ‘definitive’ without them anyhow. So, all of the above (and the small matter of me filming another Channel 4 series in Manchester anyhow) led to me not taking part.

[Dolph Wiggler]

Well, you know what happened to Mr Sweeney? Some fellas broke into his house and started messing with him...and they put a bra on him.

Oh, God, poor Mr Sweeney. He wouldn't like that at all. I heard there were 200 cases of forced transvestism involving Mr Sweeney last year.

[Dangerblade]

"...you were wearing your blue sweater."

"OHHHHHHHHHH!"

[Squinty]

I'll have to watch this documentary then. We were talking about the Hairy Babies episode on the way home tonight.

The whole show is classic and never seems to age. The racism one is strawberry floating brilliant.

[PCCD]

"I hear you're a racist now Father"