The Mainland (Father Ted) The Mainland (Father Ted) "The Mainland" is the fourth episode of the third series of the Channel 4 sitcom "Father Ted" and the 21st episode overall. It was first broadcast on 3 April 1998. Ted, Dougal, Jack, and Mrs. Doyle depart Craggy Island for the mainland for various reasons; Ted plans to collect £200 he won in a bet, and then visit the Very Dark Caves with Dougal, Mrs. Doyle plans to meet with her friend Mrs. Dineen to have tea, and Jack needs a new set of glasses as his last pair were taken by a bird. After dropping
Father Ted Crilly of the writers' key influences was Charles Grodin's character in the 1972 film "The Heartbreak Kid". Actor Maurice O'Donoghue auditioned for the role, and Linehan felt that he was the right appearance, age and "lightness" for the character. Mathews wanted to cast comedian Dermot Morgan from an early stage, but Linehan was reluctant; he worried that audiences would confuse Ted with Father Trendy, a character Morgan had previously created for "The Live Mike". Trendy parodied a class of priests including Brian D'Arcy, perceived in the 1970s as wanting to be considered liberal and "cool", whereas Ted was written as a