‘Father Ted’ creator Graham Linehan has confirmed the sitcom is being made into a musical.
The hit Channel 4 show about an Irish Catholic priest ended 20 years ago, with star Dermot Morgan tragically dying of a heart attack the day after the last episode filmed.
But comedy writer Graham has revealed ‘Pop Ted’ the musical is in development and he is meeting with the rest of the cast to discuss who will play their parts on stage.
Graham tweeted: "’Pope Ted–The Father Ted Musical’ written by Arthur Mathews and myself, music by Neil Hannon, is almost written. I just thought you’d like to know. THIS IS NOT A DRILL! It’s the real final episode of Father Ted. (sic)"
The writer behind ‘The IT Crowd’ and ‘Black Books’ later added: "Lots of people sending me casting suggestions and audition requests for the Ted musical. Might be better to leave it until the end of June when I’m getting together with the rest of the gang!"
The musical will see Father Ted promoted to head of the Catholic Church, forcing him to leave his fictional remote home Craggy Island to live in the Vatican City in Rome.
Linehan told the BBC: "I didn’t want to do anything like this until the right idea came along, and when Trump won [the US Presidency] and Corbyn won [the Labour leadership] I kind of thought, ‘Maybe Ted has a chance’.
"I thought it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch. Obviously, we’re pulling some shenanigans to get him into that position but I think the shenanigans are entertaining enough that people won’t mind."
‘Father Ted’ – about a hapless rural Irish priest starred Ardal O’Hanlon, 52, as childlike Father Dougal McGuire, Pauline McLynn, 55, as housekeeper Mrs Doyle and Frank Kelly, 77, as foul-mouth alcholic Father Jack.
The Channel 4 sitcom ran for just 25 episodes between 1995 and 1998 but became a huge hit and won legions of fans. Dermot Morgan was just 45 when he died.
Father Ted the musical confirmed
