A one-liner featured in classic ecclesiastical comedy Father Ted has been voted into the top 10 TV put-downs of all time.
In a poll conducted by UKTV Play to mark the launch of another legendary sitcom Blackadder on the channel, a line delivered by the late Dermot Morgan as Father Ted Crilly is ranked at number nine on the list.
Featured in the episode ‘Old Grey Whistle Theft’, the line is spoken to Dougal when Ted suspects the absent-minded priest of being guilty of the theft of a whistle, a crime which has rocked Craggy Island. The put-down in question is as follows:
“Dougal, is there anything on your mind? Let me rephrase that…”
Of course, fans of the show will know that it turns out the rebellious Father Damo was in fact the guilty party.
The number one put-down in the poll was delivered by Caroline Aherne as Mrs.Merton who said while interviewing Debbie McGee, wife of magician Paul Daniels:
“But what first, Debbie, attracted you to the millionaire Paul Daniels?”
This was followed by an Only Fools And Horses line by Del Boy:
“Dear old granddad, bless him. He was about as useful as a pair of sunglasses on a bloke with one ear.”
The full list of the 20 best comedy put-downs can be viewed by clicking here.
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