Is rightly celebrated nineties Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted actually the same programme as near-forgotten sixties BBC ‘light drama’ Doctor Finlay’s Casebook? Let us consider the evidence…
- both were set in large ageing workplace/home hybrid buildings in remote outposts of near-neighbouring nations
- both featured a middle-aged professional posted there against his will, accompanied by a naive younger co-worked, a cantankerous old git, and a housekeeper obsessed with her duties
- both made heavy use of plots based around the eccentric locals
- the actors playing John Finlay and Ted Crilly looked not entirely dissimilar to each other
- both had theme tunes specially commissioned from composers better known for their work in other fields; Dr Finlay’s Casebook from classical composer Trevor Duncan, better known for his Four Evil Men Suite which featured in A For Andromeda (The Sadist), Quatermass II (The Mutant) and The Young Ones (The Barstard), and Father Ted from Neil Hannon, better known for stealing snakes
- neither series ever guest-starred Roland Rat or Sendhil Ramamurthy, TV’s Mohinder from Heroes
- both series have been namechecked in this post with a procession of facts that are all true except for one
Priggish nuns are no stranger either. Although I think FT could show the Dr a thing or two in the natural acting stakes.