Father Dougal McGuire Linehan and Mathews to discard the mockumentary format and expand the Father Ted episode to a traditional sitcom, Father Dougal became one of the main characters. When writing Dougal, Linehan and Mathews drew on Stan Laurel, incorporating some of Linehan's own behaviour during moments of confusion. Linehan and Mathews saw O'Hanlon in a modernised Shakespeare play broadcast by RTÉ, and were impressed by the "weird, gormless" face he could pull. Linehan later said, "That was Dougal right there. He was just spot-on and he became our secret weapon. The show took off so quickly because Ardal was so instantly funny."
Think Fast, Father Ted also set up a Twitter page for the character, and a website where fans can purchase customised Father Purcell video greetings. Think Fast, Father Ted "Think Fast, Father Ted" is the second episode of the second series of the Channel 4 sitcom "Father Ted". The title is a play on the novel "Think Fast, Mr. Moto" by John P. Marquand, and the film of the same title starring Peter Lorre. The parochial house has a leak, which happens to be over Jack's head. Ted and Dougal move him, only to have another leak start over Jack's new position. Ted decides