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."
Flight Into Terror Flight Into Terror "Flight Into Terror" is the 10th episode of the second series of Channel 4 sitcom "Father Ted" and the 16th episode overall. The three Craggy Island priests are on a plane with a party of other priests and nuns, returning to Ireland from a pilgrimage to a golf course where the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared. Ted and Dougal share their tacky souvenirs, which include a tape dispenser that tells one how much tape they used. As the plane takes off, Ted notes his fear of flying. Dougal is invited to come to see the cockpit with