Father Ted Mathews first met while working at "Hot Press". In the late 1980s, Mathews, Paul Woodfull and Kieran Woodfull formed The Joshua Trio, a U2 tribute band. The trio began writing comedy sketches to accompany their act. Mathews created the Father Ted character for his short-lived stand-up routine. Before The Joshua Trio played at gigs, Mathews would occasionally come on-stage as Father Ted and tell jokes involving his great friend, Father Dougal McGuire. In 1991, Mathews left his job at "Hot Press" and moved into Linehan's London home. Over the next three to four years, they worked on rough ideas for
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