** this is a review of the Father Ted Christmas special. please read my other Father Ted reviews for a more overall account of the show**

Father Ted created by Graham Lineham (Black Books and the IT Crowd) and Arthur Matthews (sorry Arthur for previous reviews!), ran for 3 series from 1995 to 1998.

A Christmassy Ted (a Christmas special) was produced just after the 2nd series and before the 3rd and was broadcast on Christmas Eve in 1996 on channel 4 (the show is now repeated quite often on More 4, on around 11 pm.) This episode is 55 minutes long compared to the usual length of around 22 minutes an episode.

The episodes opens with a funny dream where Ted is in Ballykissangel, featuring the stars of that show. Once that is over the plot of the episode quickly takes prominence; and is as follows;

Ted is unhappy that he doesn't get enough recognition for his work in the priest hood and has no excitement in his life in general. Ted and Dougal are then shopping in a huge department store and get lost in the underwear department (near the bras) and meet up with other priests who have also been 'lost' in the section, fearing the scandal in the papers if they were all to be found Ted takes control and successfully leads all the priests out (think of a Vietnam type movie scene). Ted learns he will receive a Golden Cleric award as recognition for his heroic actions. It is the arrival of an unexpected guest which changes the story from here on, the priest claims to be un old friend of Teds, but who is he and what does he really want?

The episode even feature stand up comedian Ed Byrne (very briefly) looking very young; he is one of the lads who interrupt Ted's phone call to the priest hotline.

It's a great stand alone episode but I do feel it could have been cut down a bit with its running time; maybe 44 minutes would have been more appropriate. Yet it doesn't out stay its welcome at all. With some great scenes (the department store. The part where Mrs Doyle thinks Ted is only the second best priest) it's a very strong episode.

As all DVDs of Father Ted I recommend go buying it right now (the box set is astonishingly cheap at the moment (wish I had got it myself instead of the individual DVDS!)

If you have any other questions feel free to message me
Tony