Linehan cleared up the rumours.
Father Ted was twenty years old last week and the anniversary was celebrated in a major way because it’s one of the country’s best ever TV shows.
It was created by Arthur Matthews and Graham Linehan, and the latter took to Twitter to express his delight that Father Ted was still so important to people.
He also wanted to clear up the rumour about why the show aired on Channel 4, and not RTÉ.
Been a lovely anniversary week. Really nice to see the affection that’s still out there for Father Ted.
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
But that rumour persists, the one where we offered Ted to RTE and they turned it down. Not true. Channel 4 asked us to write it.
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
As Arthur used to say, “Why would we give it to RTE? That’d be like giving it to Waterford Glass.”
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
At that time, early ’90s, they were useless, but I thought things might have changed, so last year I asked them to come in on The Walshes
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
They put some money into the budget of the three ep run. Every so often we’d write to them, asking if they had any notes etc. No response
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
Then, when BBC2 passed, we wrote again, asking if RTE would like to take over. No response.
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
This is the first show set in Ireland I’d done since Father Ted, remember, and I couldn’t even get the head of comedy to reply to us.
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
So we did a bit of research and found some other names, went over his head and wrote to them.
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
THEN he gets back to us and passes. After *months* of trying to get him to respond to us directly.
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
Can you imagine what would have happened to Father Ted in that kind of system?
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
And since then I’ve heard many similar reports–they just don’t get back to people. It’s unbelievably unprofessional. A joke.
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
The nepotism there is the stuff of legend, maybe this is the result. It just seems to be a place where people get paid to sit in a building.
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) April 26, 2015
According to the Irish Independent, RTÉ had this to say on the matter, “RTÉ is serious about supporting new writing, and will continue to do so.”
“The prestigious win for ‘Love/Hate’ at this weekend’s Celtic Media Awards is testament to RTÉ’s commitment to developing new writing,” said a spokesperson.
“RTÉ was very proud of ‘The Walshes’. However, as a part-funder, RTÉ was not in a position to provide majority funding once the BBC decided not to re-commission it.”
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