Fr Ted’s dreams of a parish in Las Vegas are to come true
An American version is being made of the ungodly and gripping Channel 4 comedy which ended in Britain five years ago.
Significantly, the final episode in the third and last series was Going to America.
British-based Hat Trick Productions, the original production company, is teaming up with American writer Spike Feresten for the remake.
The series, which follows the zany exploits of the three island-based priests and their housekeeper from hell, gained a cult following in the States after being shown on BBC America.
The show, which featured the late Dermot Morgan in the star role together with Ardal O'Hanlon (Fr Dougal) and Pauline McLynn (Mrs Doyle) spawned a host of catch phrases mainly abusive ones from a highly inebriated and semi-conscious Father Jack Hackett (Frank Kelly).
The original series were filmed on location in Ireland and London and written by Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews.
Morgan, however, collapsed and died at a dinner party at his home in London in February 1998 just a day after the final series of Father Ted completed filming.
US-based scriptwriter Mr Feresten said: "I was raised a Catholic and this show just felt right to me.
"The essence of the show is about men who are also priests and, as men, they have many foibles."
However, constantly inveigled into playing Devil's advocate, from picketing a blasphemous movie to becoming an Elvis lookalike, Fr Ted's long-awaited dreams of a parish in Las Vegas and a life free from embarrassment are finally coming true.
