Father Ted: The Complete Scripts

by Graham Linehan, Arthur Mathews

Only three series of Father Ted were screened before the untimely death of Dermot Morgan. This book is a compilation from all the series, as well as some early scripts that were never screened.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Irish Literature, Reference, Tv, Comedy

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Samantha Brattle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE Father Ted, my dad bought me this book and I read it in a day and by the end of it I was in tears through laughing so much. If you have seen the series then read this its like you are watching the episode in your head.

[Sebastian · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest sitcom of all time.

These scripts are like gold dust. There are some nice extras thrown in too.

[Toby Zara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scripts, almost by definition, are not the finished article. Reading 'Romeo and Juliet' is not the same as watching the play although, in that particular case, tedium is always the end result*.

So when I read scripts for something I generally like as much as 'Father Ted' the text seem to float off the page and superimpose themselves over the same events as seen on TV. Which means of course it's almost impossible to write an unbiased review of the words alone.

As always with a collection like this, they are of variable quality, ranging from the sublime ('Hell' depicting the most awful caravan holiday in history) to desperate ('The Mainland' where an ill advised Richard Wilson wanders into a cave to say "I don't believe it.")

If you like watching box sets in a day long binge, then by all means read these scripts one after the other. It doesn't work for me. After a while the events become less surreal and running gags loose their freshness. Mrs Doyle insisting someone has a cup of tea only works the third time if in between you've had a break from Craggy Island.

But then, but then, when it works, oh boy, does it work! Dougal being thicker than thick. Ted with his veneer of normality hiding ... what? I really don't know. Jack and Mrs Doyle as grotesques. All living on another planet and subjected to events of no rhyme or reason but joined in a joyous plot.

I love programs/films/whatever where it is clear everyone concerned is enjoying themselves without getting self-indulgent, and this is one such.

Go read. Go enjoy.

*Oh, go on, sue me. I find Shakespeare boring.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never laughed so much than when I read this for the first time. I received it as a xmas present. It was the first thing I opened and I immediately spent the next few hours howling in laughter, ignoring everything and everyone else around me until I had finished.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must have book for fans of the show. Includes full scripts with deleted scenes, some commentary by the creators, and stills from the episodes. Would have liked to see a few more extras such as interviews and behind the scenes pictures, but I'll take what I can get.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must for any Father Ted fan! Not the final drafts so contains unused scenes, and also an introduction to each episode by the writers. I couldn't stop laughing reading this!

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a lot needs to. be said, about this book, ,,If you loved the series, you will love this, so very very funny,