The Mainland (Father Ted)

Infobox Television episode
Title = The Mainland
Series = Father Ted


Caption =
Season = 3
Episode = 4
Airdate = 3 April 1998
Production =
Writer = Graham Linehan, Arthur Mathews
Director = Andy DeEmmony
Guests = Graham Norton (Father Noel Furlong),
Richard Wilson (Himself),
Episode list = List of Father Ted episodes
Prev = Speed 3
Next = Escape from Victory

"The Mainland" is the 4th episode of the third series of Channel 4 sitcom "Father Ted".

ynopsis

On a visit to the mainland, Ted and Dougal get lost in a cave while trying to escape enraged television personality Richard Wilson (who reacts with extreme violence to Ted mentioning his catchphrase "'I don't believe it!')". Along the way the hapless duo encounter Father Noel Furlong and his St. Luke's Youth Group who have been trapped for two days. His screeching triggers a cave-in and his youth group, under the pretence of going to get help, flee to Paraguay. Meanwhile Mrs. Doyle and her friend Mrs. Dineen spend an afternoon in a teashop only to end up arguing and starting a fight over who should pay the bill whilst Jack accidentally joins an alcoholics anonymous group after an appointment with an optician following the mysterious disappearance of his spectacles (mainy due to the fact a crow keeps flying off with them).

Casting

* Richard Wilson makes a special guest appearance as himself, with Ted and Dougal recognising him as "yer man from "One Foot in the Grave". In the episode, every time Ted says, "I don't believe it", Wilson becomes very angry (and in their first encounter, he even roughs Ted up a bit). This is a real-life reference to the fact that Wilson really does hate people going up to him and saying his catchphrase from "One Foot in the Grave".
* Graham Norton returns for his third and final appearance as Father Noel Furlong. He sings the Queen songs "Bohemian Rhapsody" and, at the very end of the episode, "Fat Bottomed Girls".

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0578520/ "The Mainland" on the IMDB]