The Very Best of Father Ted [1995] [DVD]

The situations here are much more melodramatic and occasionally, a tad more surreal than what you would normally find in sitcoms of the past... though the archetypes and show-structures are what would be expected of the genre (none of the Alan Partridge experimentation here). However, in true sitcom fashion, the majority of the humour is drawn from the contrast between the slightly deadpan father Ted and the child-like father Dougal... whilst stock characters such as Mrs Doyle the house keeper and the permanently legless father Jack each add to the charm of the comic scenarios.

As for the episodes on this DVD well, we get a strong cross-selection of Ted through each series, but with only six episodes this hardly constitutes as a definitive ‘best of’. The choices made are good ones, with Speed 3 being an out and out masterpiece of TV comedy, while it’s also nice to have the inclusion of the Father Ted Christmas special; in which eight priests (Ted and Dougal included) famously get lost in the lingerie section of a department store... the biggest lingerie department in the whole of the country, or so we are informed.

Two of the episodes have commentaries from co-writer Graham Linehan whilst the ‘lent’ episode has a talk-track from Linehan with co-star Ardal O’Hanlan. Other extras includes are the optional subtitles for the hearing impaired and a ‘best of the best of’ clips compilation... it’s only note worthy merit is the inclusion of the cracking music video to Ted and Dougal’s song for Ireland musical smash, My Lovely Horse. As I’ve previously mentioned, this is an excellent TV show, definitely worth a full five stars.

However, unless you’re merely a casual Father Ted viewer... or can’t spring for the full series price (like me, boo-hoo!) then this probably wont be of much interest. Maybe a few more extras might have clinched it, but sadly not. Four Stars.

The Episode - Competiiton Time - Ted and Dougal both want to be Elvis Presley at the All Priests Stars in Their Eyes Contest. Ted wants to ensure he doesn't humiliate himself like last year as he was Mother Teressa. But when a TV Star called Henry Sellers comes to stay to judge the competition, hilarious disaster strikes when he gets super drunk.

The second episode on the DVD is called 'Cigerettes and Alcohol and Rollerblading' and sees the three priests each trying to give up something they love for lent and all failing miserably. Ted and Dougal call for help and help arrives in the form of Nun, Sister Assumpta who tries punishing Ted and Dougal for their sins.Meanwhile Father Jack becomes sobre for the first time in decades.

My favourite episode is next and that is called 'A Song for Europe' and sees Ted and Dougal entering a song for the Eurovision song contest called 'My Lovely Horses' (bound to be a winner!'

Speed 3 is the next episode on the disc and it is another cracker. When the local milkman gets fired for delivering more than milk, Dougal takes over the job. But the old milkman wants revenge and plants a bomb on the milkfloat.

The fifth episode is called 'The Mainland' and sees the four taking a trip to the Mainland. Jack gets some new glasses and attends an AA meeting, Mrs Doyle gets into a fight with her friend (they both want to pay for the tea) and land up in jail. Meanwhile Dougal and Ted meet Richard Wilson from One foot in the grave and get stuck in the very, very dark caves with a lunatic.

The last episode on the disc is an extended one hour long Christmas speical first broadcast on Christmas eve 1006. In this episode Ted is awarded a Golden Cleric for his services to the church and gets trapped in a woman's underwar store while Christmas shopping.

The disc has a couple of special features including a bonus episode, a scene selection, commentaries by Graham Linehan (writer) and Father Dougal (Ardal O'Hanlon) Plus there a photto gallery and the best clips from every character.

An excellent DVD, the best one you'll ever find. Containing the best episodes of the best sitcom in the world. Even now after 8 years, it is still unique, fresh and very funny. Two words of advice - BUY IT!