The Mainland

This hasn't been one of my favourite Father Ted's over the years, so I've tended not to watch it when it's come on the TV, but I saw it last night and can't understand for the life of me why I've been previously dismissive of it. It's an absolute corker.

It has all the classic ingredients which make Father Ted one of the best comedy series to grace the television screen. The writers have a canny knack of taking mundane, simple situations and turning them into chaos and disaster, with this episode being a perfect example.

There's a bigger role for Mrs Doyle as well, although perhaps that can be said about the third series in general, and Pauline McLynn does not disappoint. Always surprised they didn't create a spin-off show for Mrs Doyle.

As usual, there's a good mix of satire and slapstick with the added bonus of Richard Wilson appearing as himself. It's a very clever move, if done correctly, to add a famous face playing himself, as it makes the characters of the show feel even more real than normal. Here they are, acting up around a TV personality that we all know, just the same way we would. Big thumbs up as well to Richard Wilson for being prepared to send himself up.

We're regularly reminded throughout the three series that Dougal isn't always the most asinine character, and this episode is no different with Ted's impetuous outburst in the police station highlighting that he's just as capable as his dim-witted sidekick of turning a positive into a negative.

'The Mainland' includes a second appearance from Father Noel Furlong (Graham Norton) and his lugubrious, young associates which is most welcome. Father Jack features a fair amount as well, although his behaviour is more subdued compared to normal. Perhaps the writers felt that his usual antics might be too much in an episode already featuring an agitated Richard Wilson and a hyperactive Noel Furlong.

So, from now on, this will be one of the many Father Ted episodes I regularly re-watch.