Father Ted (Channel 4, 1995-1998)
Father Ted is one of the best comedy shows of the 90s and I don’t really need to explain why really, I’m sure that you’ll all be familiar with the characters and the history of the show and why it’s such a classic. But as the 20th anniversary of the first episode approaches, I did want to put something together to show my appreciation so here is…
MY TOP TEN FAVOURITE ONE-OFF “FATHER TED” CHARACTERS (PART ONE)
It was tough to put this list together because there are so many great characters in the show, but here are ten of my favourites.
1. FATHER PAUL STONE (“Entertaining Father Stone”) 
He’s fine. Father Stone is a rather dull chap, he just likes to sit there and suck all the energy out of the room. He also likes to appear out of nowhere to use the toilet. One day while playing crazy golf he was suddenly struck by lightning. As he sat there motionless in the hospital, his parents visited him and they were rather upset. He did recover though, and he was soon sat back on his hero Ted’s sofa.
2. HENRY SELLERS (“Competition Time”) 
37-year-old Henry is a wig-wearing game show host who used to be very popular on the BBC but they sacked him because he became an alcoholic. He is on Craggy Island to judge a competition and after having just a tiny sip of sherry at Mrs Doyle’s request he goes on the rampage to the extent that he has to be taken down with a tranquiliser dart. He was one of Dougal’s heroes but he was very disappointed to meet him.
3. FATHER BARTY DUNNE (“Competition Time”) 
Father Dunne is another judge for the competition and he likes to laugh, all the time, which makes him after awkward to sit next to on car journeys. I wonder if he is a distant relative of Dick and Dom? He finds everything amusing, especially the time Jack lost his slippers and he calls the toilet “the old heh-heh”. Marvellous.
4. FATHER LIAM FINNEGAN (“Think Fast, Father Ted”) 
Father Finnegan is of course best known as the dancing priest. He likes to dance from the moment he gets up from the moment he goes to bed, especially to annoying 60s music. It kept him fit but he just couldn’t stop himself and he eventually had a heart attack and died. He also had his car stolen which didn’t help either.
5. FATHER BILLY O’DWYER (“Think Fast, Father Ted”) 
Father O’Dwyer is known as “The Spinmaster” and really knows how to get a crowd going when he dons the old headphones at gigs. Unfortunately he doesn’t own any records. He also has a lot of gambling debts but he won’t let it ruin him like it did his father and grandfather, and he ends up stealing the raffle money, how dishonest. He also lets us know that the national anthem of Ireland is “Ghost Town” by The Specials.
ADAM'S NOSTALGIC MEMORIES 