THE SON of Father Ted star Dermot Morgan has defended the sitcom and his father’s work on the series amid increasing scrutiny over the show’s depictions of race.
It comes after several popular sitcoms and sketch shows were pulled from TV schedules and streaming services amid the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests.
Programmes such as Little Britain, Bo Selecta and The Mighty Boosh are no longer available to watch after concerns were raised about the depiction of black and minority characters.
In several instances, performers drew criticism for their use of black face.
An episode of the classic sitcom Fawlty Towers was also removed and later reinstated with a warning by the BBC Studios-owned UKTV platform over its use of several "racial slurs".
The move was condemned by the show’s creator, John Cleese, who wrote on Twitter: "I would have hoped that someone at the BBC would understand that there are two ways of making fun of human behaviour.
"One is to attack it directly. The other is to have someone who is patently a figure of fun, speak up on behalf of that behaviour."
I would have hoped that someone at the BBC would understand that there are two ways of making fun of
human behaviour
One is to attack it directly.
The other is to have someone who is patently a figure of fun, speak up on behalf of that behaviour
Thank of Alf Garnett...— John Cleese (@JohnCleese) June 12, 2020
A small minority has also criticised Father Ted and the depiction of a Chinese person in the classic episode 'Are You Right There Father Ted'.
The criticism sparked a response from Don Morgan, the son of the late, great Father Ted himself, Dermot Morgan.
Dermot tragically passed away just days after the third series of the hit comedy wrapped, with the series serving as a lasting legacy of his incredible talents as an actor and comedian.
Don tweeted: "All my family have left of my father is his work and reputation. He abhorred racism of every type and actively worked against it.
"Whilst insignificant compared to the suffering and upset of victims of racism, you might forgive me for feeling more than a little sad about this."
All my family have left of my father is his work and reputation. He abhorred racism of every type and actively worked against it. Whilst insignificant compared to the suffering and upset of victims of racism, you might forgive me for feeling more than a little sad about this. https://t.co/SWr9N4k81M
— Donnchadh Morgan (@gutenmorgan) June 11, 2020
There has not been any move yet to remove Father Ted from streaming services in Ireland or the UK, partly because, as the show’s co-creator himself, Graham Linehan, has explained, the episode was designed to serve as a criticism of Irish attitudes to race.
“The episode in which Ted accidentally offends the island’s hitherto-unseen Chinese community was based on ‘really nasty racist convulsions’ that accompanied unfamiliar waves of immigration,” Linehan told The Guardian in 2015.
“Ireland’s 1950s happened in the 90s,” he said.
“It was really disappointing that you’ve got a reputation as the friendliest people on Earth, but as soon as it’s put to the test you fail. So, there’s a lot of frustration about Ireland in Ted.”
