Irish star Ardal O’Hanlon has revealed how much he was paid for starring in the classic comedy Father Ted – and it’s far less than you might think.
The comedian and actor, who played the loveable Fr Dougal Maguire for three series was paid just £2,000 per episode.
That works out at around £50,000 for his entire time on the show.
O’Hanlon said: “People would be shocked by how little it was. I was paid something like £2,000 an episode.
“To put it in context, I remember hearing that a senior figure in sitcom was doing a Christmas special for £45,000 per episode.
“I was fine with that. I wasn’t in it for the money.”
When you consider what a hit the show was and how much it is still loved today, you would have to say O’Hanlon provided some of the best value for money in TV history.
He may not have made his fortune on Father Ted but manage to take a fantastic momento from the set.
O’Hanlon posted a photo of his keepsake – a framed portrait of Father Ted with Father Stone – on his Twitter page.
He added the message: “Look what I found! The one thing I nicked from the Father Ted set 25 years ago (apart from my tank tops obviously).”
Look what I found! The one thing I nicked from the Father Ted set 25 years ago (apart from my tank tops obviously). pic.twitter.com/psmDwTAMc1
— Ardal O’Hanlon (@ardalsfolly) May 15, 2022
The funnyman may not have been laughing all the way to the bank, but there is no doubt that starring in the hit show was a great career move for O’Hanlon.
He has gone on to have a long successful career as an actor and showed his versatility by acting in comedies such as My Hero and dramas like Death in Paradise.
He is also one of Ireland’s favourite stand-up comedians.
O’Hanlon recently spoke about the moment he was told he would be working with fellow Father Ted legend Pauline McLynn for the first time in 25 years for the series ‘Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything’.
He said: “I think we make a very convincing old couple, given our history together and knowing our shorthand together.”
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Written by Michael Kehoe @michaelcalling