Its cameos and quotes are as iconic as they come, but if you have limited time on your hands and need a good laugh, these are the funniest episodes from Father Ted.
Father Ted is a 90s sitcom that follows the lives of three absurd priests and their housekeeper on Craggy Island, a fictional island off the coast of Ireland.
The show has won multiple awards for its expert screenwriting and performances and remains a cornerstone of Irish comedy. Looking for a good laugh? These are the funniest episodes from Father Ted.
- Its cameos and quotes are as iconic as they come, but if you have limited time on your hands and need a good laugh, these are the funniest episodes from Father Ted.
- Meanwhile in Ireland’s top facts about Father Ted
- 10. Season 3, Episode 2 – ‘Chirpy Burpy Cheap Sheep’
- 9. Season 1, Episode 5 – ‘And God Created Woman’
- 8. Season 2, Episode 10 – ‘Flight into Terror’
- 7. Season 3, Episode 6 – ‘Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse’
- 6. Season 2, Episode 7 – ‘Rock a Hula Ted’
- 5. Season 3, Episode 7 – ‘Night of the Nearly Dead’
- 4. Season 2, Episode 4 – ‘A Song for Europe’
- 3. Season 3, Episode 3 – ‘Speed 3’
- 2. Season 2, Episode 1 – ‘Hell’
- 1. The Christmas Special, 1996 – ‘A Christmassy Ted’
- Your questions answered on the best Father Ted episodes
Meanwhile in Ireland’s top facts about Father Ted
- Father Ted first premiered back on the 21st of April 1995, and it ran for a total of three seasons. It is still a staple in Irish people’s TV time even today.
- The show itself centres around four main characters, who are: Father Ted Crilly, Father Dougal Maguire, Father Jack Hackett, and of course Mrs. Doyle. It is set on Craggy Island, a fictional island on the west coast of Ireland.
- The comedic style of Father Ted is surreal and absurd humour. It had a knack for successfully satirising certain parts of Irish society, such as the Catholic Church.
- Father Ted won numerous awards. Its most notable would be a BAFTA for Best Comedy.
- Tragically, Dermot Morgan, who played Father Ted, passed away shortly after the show’s last episode was recorded in 1998. He has went down as an icon of the Irish comedy and television scene for this role.
10. Season 3, Episode 2 – ‘Chirpy Burpy Cheap Sheep’
‘Chirpy Burpy Cheap Sheep’ is like a murder mystery, with Ted as the sleuth detective, but the madness – and comedic moments – of this particular mystery is unmatched.
The episode’s ‘beast’, along with the Lough Ness Monster, and non-Catholic Gods, are added to a list of ‘Things That Don’t Exist’ for Dougal. Mrs Doyle keeps special ‘sheep tea’ in the kitchen. There are too many comical moments to mention.
9. Season 1, Episode 5 – ‘And God Created Woman’
This episode offers the traditional boy-meets-unattainable-girl-and-embarrasses-himself-beyond-redemption plotline.
Ted is left with egg on his face, no matter which way he turns, as he navigates unchartered waters interacting with the opposite sex in this side-splitting scenario that just might make for one of the funniest episodes from Father Ted.
8. Season 2, Episode 10 – ‘Flight into Terror’
‘Flight into Terror’ chronicles the priests’ adventurous flight back from a pilgrimage to the Shrine at Kilnettle.
It’s almost as if we are listening in behind the scenes to what would happen and what a group of priests might say in the event of impending doom. And, we can safely say: it’s pure comedy gold.
Read more: Check out our article on the top 10 interesting facts about Father Ted you may not have known
7. Season 3, Episode 6 – ‘Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse’
The second instalment of the only two-parter in Father Ted, ‘Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse’, sees Ted’s villainous boss arrive to inspect a miraculous apparition at the parochial house.
Ted plots to administer an offensive blow up his arse to complete his forfeit for a football game. The result? One of the funniest episodes from Father Ted, without a doubt.
6. Season 2, Episode 7 – ‘Rock a Hula Ted’
The writers satirise two elements of Irish culture: preachy rock stars like Sinead O’Connor with their character Niamh Connolly, and the Rose of Tralee with their low budget take off, ‘the Lovely Girls Competition’.
Loaded with double-entendres, irony, clever clichés, and memorable one-liners, ‘Rock a Hula Ted’ is up there with the funniest episodes from Father Ted.
5. Season 3, Episode 7 – ‘Night of the Nearly Dead’
Shaun of the Dead meets Father Ted in this laugh out loud episode.
TV presenter and crooner Eoin McLove comes to visit Craggy Island. At the same time, a multitude of menopausal women surrounds the parochial house, trapping all inside, making for a hilarious take on a traditional zombie movie.
4. Season 2, Episode 4 – ‘A Song for Europe’
Almost every line in ‘A Song for Europe’ could stand on its own in the Father Ted hall of fame.
An absurd take on the Eurovision song contest, it is safe to say that Ted and Dougal’s performance of ‘My Lovely Horse’ is one of the funniest moments, in one of the funniest episodes, from Father Ted.
Read: Want more laughs? See our article on the top 10 best one-liners from Father Ted, ranked
3. Season 3, Episode 3 – ‘Speed 3’
From the opening credits to the explosive finale, the writing and performances combine to make this one of the funniest, if not the funniest, episode in the entire series.
Ted suspects that Pat has been “delivering more than dairy products.”
The milkman gets Ted tongue-tied about using precautions in the bedroom, “You wouldn’t be advising the use of artificial contraception, would you father?”. The silly scenes and scenarios are endless.
2. Season 2, Episode 1 – ‘Hell’
Inspired by a million dreary camping holidays, this episode truly packs it all in, making it one of the funniest episodes from Father Ted, hands down.
Father Jack in his Victorian-style bathing suit, with a bucket, spade, and rubber ring. Father Larry Duff crashing to his death as he tries to take a call from Ted. The tiniest of tiny caravans toppling over with St. Luke’s Youth Group Irish dancing inside. The list goes on.
Read: Have a glance at Meanwhile in Ireland’s top 10 best cameos from Father Ted, ranked
1. The Christmas Special, 1996 – ‘A Christmassy Ted’
While out shopping for Christmas presents, Ted and Dougal get lost in the lingerie department. Searching for the exit, they bump into six additional priests. Ted must act fast to avoid another scandal in the Church.
Perhaps one of the funniest episodes from Father Ted with comic scenes and more memorable one-liners than one could wish for in any Christmas special.
You can get an even deeper analysis in our full guide.
The guide, which was developed by our very own Father Ted TV Critic Louise Kiernan, is free to download. To download it, simply fill in the form below and click download.
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Your questions answered on the best Father Ted episodes
You may still have some outstanding questions regarding the best Father Ted episodes, but not to worry! In this part of the article, we have compiled some of the most commonly asked questions put to us and from online about this topic.
Is Father Ted the best Irish sitcom ever?
It certainly has an argument that it is, and who could stand by the alternative? Other options would be Derry Girls, Young Offenders, and Mrs Brown’s Boys.
Who is the best Father Ted character?
This is a subjective question and really depends on your liking. All characters have their arguments, but Father Dougal McGuire may arguably have this title, for his affable character and many laughs he provides.
Who is the drunk guy in Father Ted?
That would be Father Jack Hackett, played by Frank Kelly. The words “drink”, “feck”, “arse” and “girls” regularly spring from Father Jack’s mouth.
For Father Ted and Derry Girls fans, you may also be interested in these two articles to decide on the debate of which show is better?
Father Ted vs Derry Girls: which is the BEST Irish SITCOM?
5 REASONS why Derry Girls is BETTER than Father Ted (or is it?!)
