Ear Candy: Talking Sopranos

make and yet ultimately kind-hearted, is brilliantly portrayed by Dermot Mor gan, who was a celebrity in Ireland but largely unknown in the UK until Line han and Mathews came knocking at his door.

Crilly is another sitcom lovable rogue, but this time a wayward priest whose innocent love of money is set at odds with the teaching of the institu tion that employs him. He has been banished to Craggy Island, the show’s windswept, rain-sodden location, for “financial irregularities”.

Father Ted’s sidekick, Father Dougal, zestfully played by the Irish stand-up Ardal O’Hanlon (spotted by the writers performing Shakespeare) is emptyheaded in the extreme, a dunce’s dunce.

As for Pauline McLynn’s matchless portrayal of Mrs Doyle, let’s just say it’s comic heaven when she appears in the sitting room brandishing yet another pile of sandwiches higher than a bap tismal font. “Go on, go on, go on,” she urges, pressing the food on her unholy employers.

With Father Ted, less was more. Sadly, the show ran for only three series, leaving audiences wanting more. Ever since, the 25 episodes have been on more or less permanent repeat, a sta ple of UK Gold and latterly shown by All 4 and BritBox.

The series’ demise was caused by the untimely death of Morgan, perfectly cast as the eternally put-upon Father Ted. He died from a heart attack, aged 45, the day after recording the final episode of series 3. Twenty-five years later, his legacy as the Catholic priest with a dodgy past is secure.

All this plus a cast of minor charac ters who, in a lesser show, would have received star billing. There’s boring priest Father Paul Stone, who can’t stop talking, the alcoholic and self-regarding TV presenter Henry Sellers, and hyper Father Noel Furlong, played by a man who would go on to become one of TV’s biggest stars, Graham Norton.

Even when coronavirus is beaten, Father Ted will still be making us all laugh. A tonic for tough times. n

Father Ted is on Channel 4 and also available on All 4 and BritBox.

Ear candy

Steve Schirripa (left) and Michael Imperioli

Now TV

Talking Sopranos

The ground-breaking US crime drama The Sopranos, from HBO, is often ranked as one of the greatest television series of all time. During its six seasons, it won numerous accolades.

Thirteen years after the dramatic finale, co-stars Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa have reunited for Talk ing Sopranos, a new re-watch podcast that takes fans through each episode from the very beginning.

The pair recount behind-the-scenes stories, their favourite memories from filming and some surprising facts about the real mob lifestyle they por tray on screen.

The friends give fans an insight into their own lives and friendship. They discuss their experiences in the TV industry and the intriguing characters they’ve met on their journeys to stardom.

The pair reveal in-depth details of the characters they play in The Sopranos and share candid comments about what some of their fellow actors in the series were really like.

The podcast also treats fans to an exclusive reading of a new lockdown Sopranos script, written by creator David Chase.

Joining Imperioli and Schirripa are the show’s producers, writers, crew and special guests, including fellow cast members Michael Rispoli, Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Edie Falco.

Whether it’s for a nostalgic trip down memory lane or an introduction to an iconic series, this podcast is essential listening. For a real binge, watch The Sopranos on Now TV along side the podcast. n Kate Holman