Father Ted shows while at the same time writing for sketch shows such as "The All New Alexei Sayle Show" and "The Fast Show". One of these ideas was for a comedy mockumentary series called "Irish Lives", with six episodes, each focusing on a different character living somewhere in Ireland. They scripted an episode centring on a priest named Father Ted Crilly, who visits his friends in the seminary in Maynooth College. Producer Geoffrey Perkins suggested that the episode's concept be dramatised and rewritten as a sitcom. Mathews was originally intended to play Ted, but decided he lacked the acting ability the
Cigarettes and Alcohol and Rollerblading Cigarettes and Alcohol and Rollerblading "Cigarettes and Alcohol and Rollerblading" is the eighth episode of the second series of Channel 4 sitcom "Father Ted" and the fourteenth episode overall. Its name references the Oasis song "Cigarettes & Alcohol". With Lent approaching, Ted learns that his rival, Father Dick Byrne, and his fellow priests on Rugged Island will be giving up their vices. Ted insists to his Craggy Island priests that they must do the same: Ted will give up smoking, Jack his drinking, and Dougal his rollerblading. When Ted finds that they have all snuck out on the first night