(R-L) Dermot Morgan as Father Ted Crilly and Ardal O'Hanlon as Father Dougal McGuire

Father Ted is a critically-acclaimed Irish sitcom which revolves around three Roman Catholic priests who were all exiled to the fictional Craggy Island on the coast of Ireland: Father Ted for embezzlement, Father Jack for philandering and alcoholism, and Father Dougal for a mysterious offence referred to as "the Blackrock incident".

The show was highly controversial at the time because it casts a negative light on Catholicism and religions in general - more so since the three priests demonstrated various other vices during their exile in the island, such as smoking, swearing and sexual dalliances (despite their vows of celibacy).

Nevertheless, Father Ted was a rating and critical success. It won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy (Programme or Series) twice, in 1996 and 1999. Actor Dermot Morgan was also awarded with the Best Comedy Performance trophy in 1999.

On the island, not only did Father Ted have to handle the dim-witted Father Dougal and the alcoholic and lecherous Father Jack, he also had to resolve the problems of the residents of Craggy Island. In addition, his superior, Bishop Len Brennan, as well as Father Dick Byrne of the neighbouring Rugged Island, keeps him further occupied. To liven things up even more, the three priests were served by an eccentric housekeeper, Mrs. Doyle, who has a tendency to offer them "a nice cup of tea" at all hours of the day.

As if its perceived disrespect of religion and irreverence to tradition wasn't bad enough, Father Ted also regularly featured scantily-dressed women (even topless women seen from the back), which invited even more criticism to the show.

Occasionally, the satirical comedy also went a little Meta, as demonstrated in third episode of the first series (The Passion of St Tibulus), where protestations from the priests about a blasphemous film propelled it to become a major hit!

Father Ted was a highly original sitcom, and rode the zeitgeist of the 1980s to great comedic and social effects. A true gem.