New sitcom from Father Ted co-writer

Father Ted co-writer Arthur Mathews and star Ardal O’Halon have reunited for a new Irish political sitcom.

O’Hanlon plays the lead role in Val Falvey, TD, an ‘incompetent, self centred and cynical’ politician.

He said: ‘It’s a subversive programme in that it ridicules the pomp and self importance of politicians. Val keeps putting his foot in it and is a bit of a buffoon.’

But in an interview with the Galway Advertiser, O’Hanlon insisted his character was far removed from the naïve idiocy of Father Dougal Maguire.

‘He’s not as dim witted, more up his own arse,’ he said. ’He’s not aware of what’s going on around him. He’s not interested in constituents

Mathews has co-written the series with Paul Woodfull, with whom he collaborated on the football-based comedy musical play I, Keano in 2005

The six-part series starts on RTÉ One this Sunday night.

Published: 19 Nov 2009