Ardal O'Hanlon is strongly against any revival of Father Ted.
With the Gavin and Stacey finale a big talking point this Christmas, the Father Dougal actor has ruled out the possibility of any similar new version of the iconic Irish comedy.
Recently, we have been seeing more and more older shows come back to our screens with spin offs and reboots - Sex and the City has spawned And Just Like That, with the original cast of Outnumbered also coming together for a Christmas special this year.
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Ardal has said that he doesn't think Father Ted should be revived, as he told the Irish Independent: "No, not at all. There’s been a few attempts over the years. There were people in America interested in the rights, but then got cold feet because America is such a strange place; it can be very puritanical. Then there was the Father Ted musical, which I kind of objected to because it meant someone else playing Dougal, and that is unthinkable."
The show had three seasons spanning from 1995 to 1998, and remains a firm favourite in Ireland and beyond. Ardal also revealed he did steal something from the set of Father Ted.
"I am not materialistic, but I kept a souvenir from the Father Ted set," he said. "Fans will remember it — it was just a little painting that Father Ted had done of Father Stone. I nicked it on the last day, so it definitely has some sentimental value."
It comes as last year, Pauline McLynn, who played Mrs Doyle in the comedy, told RSVP Magazine that she wouldn't see the point of a remake of Father Ted.
"The original is fabulous so is there a need?" she said. "Years ago there was talk of an American version and I’d always get asked who I would like to see play Mrs Doyle and I would say Whoopi Goldberg. I’ll have nothing less [laughs].
"Ah no, I don’t think there would be much point in rebooting it. I watch it back, I laugh and I enjoy it but I don’t see me in it anymore, I just see Mrs Doyle and I don’t see how making it again would improve it.
"Sometimes you see remakes of movies or television shows and they’re very good… but often they’re not. "
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