Father Ted: the musical
- A Father Ted musical is being written, the sitcom's creators have revealed
- Pope Ted - The Father Ted Musical includes music by IT Crowd composer Neil Hannon
- Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews have reunited to pen the script
Graham Linehan has announced that he is writing a Father Ted musical, 20 years since the sitcom's TV finale.
Reacting to yesterday's reports that a stage musical of Only Fools And Horses is being developed, the Irish writer revealed the news on Twitter this morning.
Written by Linehan and his original Father Ted co-writer Arthur Mathews, the show is titled Pope Ted - The Father Ted Musical.
Linehan added: "It's the real final episode of Father Ted."
Promising fans "this is not a drill", he confirmed that music has been composed by Neil Hannon, who previously worked with him to create the score for sitcom The IT Crowd.
Describing the script as "almost written", he quipped "I just thought you'd like to know".
Responding to further fan questioning, Linehan explained: "This is true and not one of my stupid jokes, I promise. Didn't want to do something until the right idea came along. This was the right idea. Arthur and I have been laughing our arses off while writing it. Just like the old days."
The hit sitcom about a trio of incompetent priests on a remote Irish island ran for three series - totalling 25 episodes - on Channel 4 between 1995 and 1998. Made by Hat Trick Productions, it starred Dermot Morgan, Ardal O'Hanlon and Frank Kelly, with Pauline McLynn as their housekeeper.
Morgan, who starred as the titular Father Ted, suffered a fatal heart attack on 28th February 1998 - just 24 hours after filming the sitcom's final episode. Kelly died on the same date in 2016.
No further information about the project has yet been revealed, but it is not believed that any of the other cast members would return.
Father Ted - The Definitive Collection
Features every episode from the three series of the sitcom following the antics of Father Ted, Father Dougal, Father Jack and Mrs Doyle, and a rather impressive set of extras:
Comedy Connections documentary
Comic Relief with Ted and Dougal
US Interviews with Graham Lineham and Arthur Mathews
Tedfest 2007: A Very Ted Weekend
Two Tribes Go To War
Dougal's US pledges
Craggy Island memories
Dougal's favourite memories
Dougal's favourite sound effects
Photo gallery
First released: Monday 29th October 2007
- Distributor: 2 Entertain
- Region: 2
- Discs: 4
- Catalogue: 2EDVD0165
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- Distributor: 2 Entertain
- Region: All
- Discs: 4
- Catalogue: 2EDVD0165
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BCG may earn commission on sales generated through the links above.
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