| "Escape from Victory" | |
|---|---|
| Father Ted episode | |
 Dougal trains for the big match | |
| Episode no. | Series 3 Episode 5 |
| Directed by | Andy DeEmmony |
| Written by | Graham Linehan, Arthur Mathews |
| Original air date | 10 April 1998 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Escape from Victory" is the fifth episode of the third series of Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and the 22nd episode overall. It is the first of two episodes that form a linked narrative, ending with "Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse".
Ted is panicking over the upcoming "All-Priests five-a-side Over-75s Indoor Challenge Football Match" between teams from Craggy Island and Rugged Island, which will be led by his rival Father Dick Byrne. Ted fears the parochial house has been bugged by Dick to overhear his plans, and has been losing sleep, forcing him to drink "Dreamy Sleepy Nighty Snoozy Snooze", an alcoholic sleeping aid which is banned in most European countries. Ted explains to Dougal that he and Dick have a forfeit system, so that the priest of the losing team must do an embarrassing challenge set forth by the other.
Ted starts practicing with his team, but notices that both star players, Jack and his strike partner, Father Nick, are missing. He discovers that Nick has just died. While paying condolences to Fr. Niall Haverty, Ted observes the expensive coffin that Niall bought for Nick, as well as a pair of fake hands and a remote-controlled wheelchair, and classes these as impulse buys that would only be of use in a "completely ludicrous situation". Ted later finds that Jack has been asleep for 14 days, which is unusual for Jack, and is alarmed to find out that Jack drank the entire bottle of "Dreamy Sleepy Nightie Snoozy Snooze".
On the day of the match, Jack still has not woken up. Worse, Dick has brought Fr. Romeo Sensini, a rather fit senior compared to all the other players, for Rugged Island. Ted laments that he is stuck in a "completely ludicrous situation", when inspiration hits. He gets Niall's wheelchair to use to move the unconscious Jack on the floor, while using the fake hands to hide the remote that he is holding. Despite Romeo's abilities, Jack "leads" the team to a 2-1 victory over Rugged Island. As Ted celebrates with the others and announces Dick's forfeit - to kiss Father Cyril on the cheek to play on Dick's homophobia - the referee comes in and notices Ted's fake hands, due to Ted being unable to take a glass of champagne. He immediately discovers Ted's deception, and the Craggy Island victory is annulled.
Some time later, Ted gets a letter from Dick with a forfeit for cheating at the match. He is horrified to learn that he has to "kick Bishop Brennan up the arse". When Ted reads the forfeit out loud, Dougal faints from the shock, Mrs Doyle drops her teapot and Jack wakes up immediately.
Father Ted is a sitcom created by Irish writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews and produced by British production company Hat Trick Productions for British television channel Channel 4. It aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May 1998, including a Christmas special, for a total of 25 episodes. It aired on Nine Network and ABC Television in Australia, and on TV2 in New Zealand.
Father Dougal McGuire is a character in the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. Created by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, Dougal was portrayed by comedian Ardal O'Hanlon for the programme's three series. The character is a childlike, simple-minded Roman Catholic curate exiled to Craggy Island, a small island off the coast of Galway.
Father Ted Crilly is the eponymous main character of the British Channel 4 situation comedy Father Ted. Created by Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews, Ted was portrayed by comedian Dermot Morgan for the programme's three series. The character is a morally dubious Roman Catholic priest exiled to Craggy Island, a small island off the coast of Galway in Ireland.
"Good Luck, Father Ted" is the first episode to be aired of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. It first aired in the United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland on 21 April 1995.
"The Passion of Saint Tibulus" is the third episode of the first series of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. Originally airing in 1995, the episode was rebroadcast on BBC2 in 2008 in tribute to Geoffrey Perkins.
"Competition Time" is the fourth episode of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted.
"Cigarettes and Alcohol and Rollerblading" is the eighth episode of the second series of Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and the fourteenth episode overall.
"Flight Into Terror" is the 10th episode of the second series of Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and the 16th episode overall.
"Kicking Bishop Brennan Up the Arse" is the sixth episode of the third series of the religion-themed sitcom Father Ted, and the 23rd episode overall. It originally aired on Channel 4 on 17 April 1998; its story continues from the previous episode, "Escape from Victory". In the episode, Father Ted Crilly must kick his strict and overbearing superior Bishop Brennan in the buttocks as a forfeit set in the previous episode by Father Dick Byrne for cheating at a football match.
"Going to America" is the series finale of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. It is the eighth episode of the third series, and the 25th episode overall. Dermot Morgan, who played the show's title character, died the day after filming was completed.
"Speed 3" is the third episode of the third series of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and the 20th episode overall. The episode parodies the action-thriller film Speed and the sequel Speed 2: Cruise Control. "Speed 3" was written after the show's writers Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews asked themselves: "How can we make a worse sequel than Speed 2?" This episode was voted the fans' favourite episode on Channel 4's "Father Ted Night".
"New Jack City" is the ninth episode of the second series of the Channel 4 television sitcom Father Ted.
The Friends of Ted Festival, or Ted Fest, is an annual fan convention held on the island of Inishmore, off the coast of County Galway, Ireland for fans of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted, created by Graham Linehan and Arthur Mathews. The series was set on the fictional Craggy Island off Ireland's west coast, so Ted Fest is also held on such an island. In 2010 the festival expanded to an Australian edition, which was held in Parkes, New South Wales.
"Are You Right There Father Ted?" is the first episode of the third series of the Channel 4 television sitcom Father Ted, and the 18th episode overall. It is notable for being the first episode aired after the death of Dermot Morgan, who had died the day after filming for the final episode had been completed. As a mark of respect to Morgan, the original transmission of the first episode was delayed by a week.
"The Mainland" is the fourth episode of the third series of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and the 21st episode overall. It was first broadcast on 3 April 1998.
"Tentacles of Doom" is the third episode of the second series of Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted and the ninth episode overall.
Chirpy Burpy Cheap Sheep is the second episode of the third series of the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted.
Craggy Island is a fictional island, supposedly off the west coast of Ireland, which serves as the primary setting for the Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted. Craggy Island Parochial House is located on the island, which is the home of three Catholic priests – Father Ted Crilly, Father Dougal McGuire and Father Jack Hackett – as well as their housekeeper Mrs Doyle. It is mentioned the Irish state have given the British government permission to use the island's coast as a dumping ground for nuclear waste.