Bless Me Father

The core of the series is naive and rather shy, Father Boyd's education at the hands of Father Duddleswell, an experienced parish priest whose staunch faith occasionally seems dangerously old-fashioned to Father Boyd but is usually revealed to be tempered by shrewd common sense and genuine goodness. Veteran character actor Arthur Lowe is quite magnificent in the role, conveying Father Duddleswell's limitations as well as his strengths, and making the growing affectionate bond between the two priests convincing and subtly moving. It is Father Duddleswell's nemesis Mother Stephen (head of the local convent) and Bishop Reilly who embody the hidebound and sometimes cruel aspects of the Church hierarchy. (It should be noted that novelist de Rosa is a formerpriest himself.) Daniel Abineri is convincingly earnest and gauche as the newly ordained curate embarrassed by his own good looks and appeal for the female members of the congregation. (So far as I know this is the only series Abineri appeared in.)

Sharp-tongued housekeeper Mrs. Pring has a love-hate 40-year relationship with Father Duddleswell which produces some delightful insult matches, as does his conflict with next-door neighbour Billy Buzzle, a Cockney bookie and black-marketeer. Most of the Irish ethnic comedy is embodied in Doctor Daley, usually seen downing a whiskey with a fag end still in his mouth while reminiscing about the Connemarra childhood he shared with his oldest friend.

Episodes:

Season 1:
1. Baptism of Fire
2. The Bells of St. Jude's
3. The Parish Bazaar
4. The Doomsday Chair
5. Father & Mother
6. The Tennis Match
7. The Seal of Confession

Season 2:
1. Blessings from Heaven
2. Father Neil's First Miracle
3. Fatal Lady
4. The Heart of a Curate
5. All at Sea
6. The Season of Goodwill
7. A Back to Front Wedding

Season 3:
1. Things Are Not What They Seem
2. Women
3. Beddings and Weddings
4. Fire & Brimstone
5. A Legend Comes to Stay
6. Porgy & Bess
7. A Mixed-Up Marriage