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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Episode menu

Series 3, Episode 7 - Night Of The Nearly Dead

Mrs Doyle wins a competition to meet a singer, the obsession of middle-aged women across Ireland. When she inadvertently reveals the date of his visit, the house is beseiged by dozens upon dozens of menopausal women.

Further details

Despite Ted's best literary efforts, Mrs Doyle wins a poem writing contest. Her reward is the chance to meet her singing idol, the legendary Mr Eoin McLove.

News spreads like wildfire that the one and only Eoin McLove will be gracing the island with his magnificent self. This sends the Craggy Island tea-making, cake-loving womenfolk of a certain age into a wild frenzy.

A giant zombie-like horde of old ladies trap their idol and the priests in the parochial house. They cut the phone lines and lay in wait for their hero to appear.

Can Father Ted save the day? It seems unlikely...

Broadcast details

Date
Friday 24th 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
Patrick McDonnell Eoin McLove
Maria Doyle Kennedy Patsy
Elva Crowley Mrs. Boyle
Vincent Marzello Television Psychiatrist
Maggie Shevlin Mrs. Collins
Rosemary Kennedy Mrs. Dunne
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

Patrick McDonnell on his role in Father Ted

Landing a part on Father Ted 20 years ago kickstarted Patrick McDonnell's career - but it also led to a lifetime of awkward encounters. The comic starred as Eoin McLove, the genitally-challenged crooner modelled on Daniel O'Donnell in a classic episode of the beloved sitcom.

James Ward, The Irish Mirror, 7th February 2016

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