Father Ted is named the second-best sitcom of all time

Irish comedy Father Ted has been voted the second-best sitcom of all time by a panel of comedy experts.

The hilarious 90s series starred Dermot Morgan as the hapless Ted and Ardal O’Hanlon as the loveable Dougal McGuire.

It has stood the test of time, with fans still quoting lines from the show two decades later.

The latest poll from the Radio Times shows that it isn’t just the public who still love Ted, Dougal, Mrs Doyle, Father Jack and the rest of the weird and wonderful inhabitants of Craggy Island.

A 42-strong panel of comedy experts have also given it the thumbs up having voted it second only to the legendary Fawlty Towers in their list of the top 20 British sitcoms.

Of course, Father Ted isn’t really a British show, it was set in Ireland, written by Irish writers and starred Irish actors.

However, it was produced by British companies Hat Trick Productions and Channel 4, so it qualified for the consideration of the Radio Times panel.

The panel thought so highly of Father Ted that they rated it above classic British shows like The Office, Blackadder, I’m Alan Partridge and Only Fools and Horses.

They said that Father Ted ‘has it all – broad and accessible, but also surreal and utterly bonkers’.

Declan Lowney directed 17 episodes of the show. He said: “Even if I hadn’t directed it, this would be one of my favourite TV shows of all time. Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews created something so special and beautiful.”

20 greatest sitcoms ever

Fawlty Towers
Father Ted

I’m Alan Partridge
Blackadder
Dad’s Army

Only Fools and Horses
Porridge
The Royle Family

Absolutely Fabulous
Dinnerladies
The Thick of it

The Office
Peep Show
The Vicar of Dibley

The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
The Young Ones
Gavin & Stacey

The Good Life
Detectorists
Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads?

More popular articles and videos