Bless Me Father
"Bless Me Father" is a 21-episode British sitcom that ran from 1978 to 1981. A gentle and impish look at Catholic life in post-war suburban Britain, the series follows the adventures and misadventures of the practical-minded veteran Irish priest Fr. Father Duddleswell (Arthur Lowe) as he tries to break in his inexperienced and idealistic young curate Father Boyd (Daniel Abineri). The priests' lives at St. Jude's Parish in London are hilariously complicated by an unflappable and tart housekeeper (Gabrielle Daye), a stern and imperious Mother Superior (Sheila Keith), and a flippant worldling neighbor, Billy Buzzle (David Ryall). Plots revolve around crises that make Catholic parish life both charming and frustrating, e.g., fund-raising and parish bazaars, the seal of confession, complications over funerals, etc.
- 1978-1981
- 3 seasons
- Comedy
"Bless Me Father" is a 21-episode British sitcom that ran from 1978 to 1981. A gentle and impish look at Catholic life in post-war suburban Britain, the series follows the adventures and misadventures of the practical-minded veteran Irish priest Fr. Father Duddleswell (Arthur Lowe) as he tries to break in his inexperienced and idealistic young curate Father Boyd (Daniel Abineri). The priests' lives at St. Jude's Parish in London are hilariously complicated by an unflappable and tart housekeeper (Gabrielle Daye), a stern and imperious Mother Superior (Sheila Keith), and a flippant worldling neighbor, Billy Buzzle (David Ryall). Plots revolve around crises that make Catholic parish life both charming and frustrating, e.g., fund-raising and parish bazaars, the seal of confession, complications over funerals, etc.
Season 3 Episode Guide
7 Episodes 1981
Episode 1
Things Are Not What They Seem
24 mins
Molly Downes, wife of P.C. Johnny Downes (Neil's closest friend), has Father Neil come round for a series of private talks. She fears her husband is fooling around and seeks advice, but it's Father Neil's visits to Molly that set tongues wagging against the curate's clandestine behavior.
Episode 2
Women
Wed, Jul 1, 1981 24 mins
It's Mrs. Pring's birthday and family news takes her away for a few days, leaving Fathers Neil and Duddleswell to tend to their own cooking, cleaning and washing. To further Father D's growing appreciation of all that Mrs. Pring does for them, Father Neil plants the idea that Mrs. Pring may soon be gone for more than just a little while. Meanwhile, while Mother Stephen wants Father D to plant her mother foundress's tibia in the church, Father Neil grows weary of giving Catholic instruction to Mrs. Rollings.
Episode 3
Beddings and Weddings
24 mins
Hoping to curb the decay in family values, Father Neil initiates family group counseling sessions which produce quite the opposite of the intended effect of bringing and keeping couples together.
Episode 4
Fire & Brimstone
23 mins
St. Jude goes through Hell week, so to speak. Father D's sermon on the fires of eternal damnation has everyone abuzz about it, from Father Boyd's private instructions to Mrs. Rollings to his newly appointed lessons for ten-year-olds, to the family of an angry patriarch as he nears death, and to an interfaith conference between the Fathers and the Anglicans, with Mother Stephen and Billy Buzzle attending.
Episode 5
A Legend Comes to Stay
24 mins
New Year's Day finds Father Duddleswell more irascible than ever thanks to neighbor Billy Buzzle's all night party next door. Now the old priest's lumbago is ailing him terribly, but the topper comes with the sudden visit of Father Abe, the wild old priest to whom Father D was once a curate - an inveterate smoker, drinker and gambler who feels his arrival comes just in time to help ailing Father D run his parish.
Episode 6
Porgy and Bess
25 mins
With a new stench about the church, the livin' ain't easy. Neighbor Billy Buzzle's built a sty next door for Porgy and Bess, his two newly acquired pigs. When Father D takes action against Porgy's roving and destructive habits, Billy takes Father Duddleswell to court.
Episode 7
A Mixed-Up Marriage
23 mins
Father Duddleswell and Mother Stephen are equally distressed about Christine Hammond, who grew up in their orphanage and now wants to marry a Jewish boy.
