Father Ted
Three priests on Craggy Island
Father Ted is a sitcom created by Irish writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews and produced for Channel 4 by Hat Trick Productions. It follows three Catholic priests exiled to the parochial house on the fictional, windswept Craggy Island off Ireland's west coast: the scheming but perpetually thwarted Father Ted Crilly, the endearingly dim Father Dougal McGuire, and the foul-mouthed, drink-sodden Father Jack Hackett, all fussed over by their tea-obsessed housekeeper Mrs Doyle. From the Eurovision disaster 'My Lovely Horse' to Ted kicking Bishop Brennan up the arse, the show delivered a stream of surreal, quotable comedy across three series before the sudden death of star Dermot Morgan in 1998. It is regularly ranked among the greatest sitcoms ever made.
Start a quizAt a glance
- First aired
- 21 April 1995
- Last aired
- 1 May 1998
- Created by
- Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews
- Channel
- Channel 4
- Series
- 3
- Episodes
- 25
- Set in
- Craggy Island, a fictional island off Ireland's west coast
- Quizzes
- 3
Father Ted quizzes
Feck, arse, drink! Test your knowledge of the three priests of Craggy Island.
The priests, the housekeeper and the bishop. How well do you know the residents of Craggy Island?
Runaway milk floats, lingerie departments and a Golden Cleric. A tough test on the best Craggy Island episodes.
Father Ted cast and characters
Father Ted Crilly
Played by Dermot Morgan
The vain, scheming priest in charge of the parish, exiled to Craggy Island over money that was "just resting" in his account. He dreams of escape and is forever trying to outdo his rival, Father Dick Byrne.
Father Dougal McGuire
Played by Ardal O'Hanlon
Ted's innocent, childlike young curate, sent to Craggy Island after the mysterious Blackrock Incident. He has almost no grasp of reality or religion.
Father Jack Hackett
Played by Frank Kelly
An elderly, foul-mouthed priest exiled for drinking and womanising. He spends most of his time in his armchair, shouting "Drink!" and worse.
Mrs Doyle
Played by Pauline McLynn
The priests' devoted housekeeper, who is obsessed with making tea and will not take no for an answer.
Bishop Len Brennan
Played by Jim Norton
The bad-tempered bishop who banished the three priests to Craggy Island and can barely stand the sight of Ted.
Father Dick Byrne
Played by Maurice O'Donoghue
Ted's smug rival from the parish on neighbouring Rugged Island, always looking to win their latest battle of one-upmanship.
Father Ted facts and FAQs
- What year was Father Ted made?
- Father Ted was first shown on Channel 4 on 21 April 1995, and the final episode aired on 1 May 1998. It was made by Hat Trick Productions.
- How many series (seasons) and episodes of Father Ted are there?
- There are three series (seasons) and 25 episodes, including the 1996 Christmas special, A Christmassy Ted. Series 1 has six episodes, series 2 has ten and series 3 has eight.
- Who created and wrote Father Ted?
- Irish writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews created and wrote Father Ted. Mathews first developed Ted Crilly as a stand-up character in the late 1980s before the pair turned him into a sitcom.
- What is Father Ted about?
- Father Ted follows three Catholic priests banished to the remote parochial house on Craggy Island: the scheming Father Ted, the dim-witted Father Dougal and the drunken Father Jack. Their housekeeper Mrs Doyle keeps them supplied with tea while Ted hatches plans to escape.
- Where is Father Ted set?
- Father Ted is set on Craggy Island, a fictional island off the west coast of Ireland. In 2007 two real Aran Islands, Inishmore and Inisheer, settled which could call itself Craggy Island with a five-a-side football match, which Inishmore won 2-0.
- Where was Father Ted filmed?
- Father Ted was filmed on location in County Clare, around Ennis, Ennistymon, Kilfenora, Corofin and Kilnaboy, with interiors recorded before a live audience at The London Studios. The parochial house is a real farmhouse near Kilnaboy, and the opening titles fly over Inisheer and the wreck of the Plassy.
- Is Father Ted British or Irish?
- Father Ted is a British-made sitcom with an Irish setting, writers and cast. It was produced by Hat Trick Productions for Channel 4.
- What happened to Dermot Morgan, who played Father Ted?
- Dermot Morgan died of a heart attack on 28 February 1998, aged 45, the day after recording the final episode of series 3. The series was broadcast a week later than planned as a mark of respect, and he won a posthumous BAFTA for Best Comedy Performance in 1999.
Awards and recognition
BAFTA for Best Comedy (1996 and 1999)
British Comedy Award for Top TV Comedy Actress, Pauline McLynn (1996)
Widely regarded as one of the greatest British sitcoms of all time