Father Ted

In 2004, Steve Martin was reported to have signed on to play Ted in a new version.

In 2007, John Michael Higgins was cast in the part.

When I knew him first, it was like he'd never been outside the house, except to go to see Star Wars films, so his influences were never that Irish, whereas I grew up in the country...

Actor Maurice O'Donoghue auditioned for the role, and Linehan felt that he was the right appearance, age and "lightness" for the character.

Mathews wanted to cast comedian Dermot Morgan from an early stage, but Linehan was reluctant; he worried that audiences would confuse Ted with Father Trendy, a character Morgan had previously created for The Live Mike.

There have been several attempts to remake the show for American audiences.