Ardal O'Hanlon, known for playing Father Dougal McGuire in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted, has revealed that health and safety was not a major concern during filming, with the cast often performing their own stunts.
Stunt revelations
Speaking to The Times, O'Hanlon recalled an incident in which he and Dermot Morgan, who played Father Ted, were dragged through a field after getting caught on the back of a tractor. He noted, "Health and safety wasn’t massive then and we often did our own stunts."
Reflecting on the show
The sitcom, created by Irish writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews, ran from 1995 to 1998 and followed three exiled Roman Catholic priests on the remote Craggy Island. O'Hanlon said, "I look back on that show very fondly. New people discover it all the time and repeat the catchphrases to me — I’m still offered quite a few cups of tea when I’m out and about. It was my first proper job in television and I pinch myself to think I was a part of TV history."
Relationships and recent controversy
O'Hanlon also spoke about his current relationships with former co-stars, saying, "I still get on great with everyone, though I haven’t seen much of the show’s creator Graham Linehan and am baffled as to why he got involved in the culture wars. I feel sorry for him; he’s entitled to his opinions but the way he presented them made it confrontational."
Last year, the programme came under fire after Channel 4 added a trigger warning to some classic episodes on its streaming service. The 1998 episode titled "Are You Right There, Father Ted" was flagged for its use of language and instances of racial impersonation. The warning reads, "This episode was made in 1998 and contains language and racial impersonation which some viewers may find offensive."
