Bless Me Father

1 9 7 8 – 1 9 8 1 (UK)

When newly ordained young priest Neil Boyd (Daniel Abineri) comes to the London parish of St Jude’s, he discovers that nothing in the seminary could have prepared him for Father Duddleswell (Arthur Lowe) – a robust and cheerful eccentric, who has been the parish priest for many years.

Neil is befuddled when Duddleswell insists that as well as the usual virtues of patience, love and charity, a parish priest must have sagacity, and both the reserve and resourcefulness of a poker player.

His confusion increases when Duddleswell and his housekeeper of twenty years, Mrs Pring (Gabrielle Daye), start hurling insults at each other.

Fresh from his success in Dad’s Army, Arthur Lowe chalked up another success as the mischievous Father Duddleswell.

With subtle and witty scripts from Peter de Rosa (based on his experiences as a novice curate), Bless Me Father is a gem of a comedy programme, with Lowe at his best.