Last week Father Ted celebrated twenty years since it first broadcast and we all delighted in reminiscing over one of the nation's all time favourite TV shows.
Graham Linehan, the man behind the hit sitcom, took to Twitter to acknowledge the love that people still had for Ted and the gang.
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
However, he wasn't long addressing that rumour that has always circulated about RTE turning down the comedy before they went to Channel 4.....
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
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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
Phew, tell us how you really feel, Linehan.
RTE then responded to the claims and released this statement:
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. 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.
Not much love lost there anyways.
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Do you think RTE have a good platform for home grown dramas and comedies? Or do you look to other channels to get your 'can't-miss-this-programme' fix? And what has been your favourite Irish show of the last few years?
