British Comedy Guide
Father Ted. Image shows from L to R: Father Dougal McGuire (Ardal O'Hanlon), Father Ted Crilly (Dermot Morgan), Mrs Doyle (Pauline McLynn), Father Jack Hackett (Frank Kelly). Copyright: Hat Trick Productions
Father Ted

Father Ted

  • TV sitcom
  • Channel 4
  • 1995 - 1998
  • 25 episodes (3 series)

Fathers Ted Crilly, Dougal McGuire and Jack Hackett are the inept priests of Craggy Island, banished from the mainland in various circumstances. Stars Dermot Morgan, Ardal O'Hanlon, Frank Kelly and Pauline McLynn.

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Series 3, Episode 6 - Kicking Bishop Brennan Up The Arse

Following his team's disqualification and the losing of the bet by proxy, Father Crilly must accept Byrne's forfeit - and kick Bishop Brennan up the arse.

Further details

A lost bet puts Ted in a delicate position. And means he must put his foot in another one... After being rumbled for cheating in the over-75s football match, Ted has to pay the ultimate forfeit. He must kick Bishop Brennan up the arse.

Despite manufacturing the perfect opportunity, Ted's nerve fails him - and the Bishop's posterior remains unbooted.

Luckily, the roads have been taken in (when the rain is bad they store them in a warehouse on the east side of the island), so the Bishop has to spend the night, giving Ted more time to pluck up courage.

Then, amazingly, Dougal has a moment of perceptive genius: the Bishop would never believe Ted would actually kick him up the arse!

This insight sparks a course of action that works flawlessly. Almost...

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 17th April 1998
Time
9:30pm
Channel
Channel 4
Length
30 minutes

Cast & crew

Cast
Dermot Morgan Father Ted Crilly
Ardal O'Hanlon Father Dougal McGuire
Frank Kelly Father Jack Hackett
Pauline McLynn Mrs Doyle
Guest cast
Jim Norton Bishop Len Brennan
Ian FitzGibbon Father Jessup
Paul Tylak Warrior
Sharon Devlin Air Hostess
Aislinn Sands Check-in Woman
Tim Dry Aide In Vatican
Paul Woodfull (as Paul Woodful) Taxi Driver
Writing team
Graham Linehan Writer
Arthur Mathews Writer
Production team
Andy de Emmony Director
Graham Linehan Director
Lissa Evans Producer
Mary Bell Executive Producer
Mykola Pawluk Editor
Tim Waddell Editor
Andrew Howe-Davies Production Designer

Press

Great episodes: Kicking Bishop Brennan up the Arse

This year marks twenty-five years of Father Ted, so what better way to commemorate this milestone than to take a look back at arguably the most iconic episode of the series? It's time for another 'Undeniably Great Episode of British Comedy' and this time we're looking at the episode - Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse!

Rhianna Evans, The Comedy Blog, 2nd May 2020

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