Father Charlie

1 9 8 2 (UK)
6 x 30 minute episodes

Premiering on Sunday 28 February 1982, this six-part ITV series from Central TV was written by veteran comedy writer Vince Powell and starred Lionel Jeffries in the title role, an ex-Regimental Sergeant Major who lost his wife in the Blitz and converted to Catholicism.

The cockney Roman Catholic priest was the sort of person who would give everything away, and his eccentric views and behaviour made it difficult for him to work amicably with other priests.

In desperation, the Bishop sent Charlie to St Winifred’s, a country convent, as chaplain.  There, the dramatic conflict was mainly between Father Charlie and the Reverend Mother Joseph (Anna Quayle) – an upper-class woman who immediately disliked the working-class priest.

Father Charlie
Lionel Jeffries
Reverend Mother Joseph
Anna Quayle
Sister Mary
Deddie Davies
Sister Lucy
Jamila Massey
Sister Bernadette
Denyse Alexander
Sister Anna
Annet Peters
Sister Mercedes
Gillian Royale
Sister Clare
Wendy Smith
Sister Theresa
Jean Bulk Morton
Sister Frances
Esther Byrd

Episodes

The New Chaplain | TV or Not TV | Miracles Take a Little Longer | Halfway to Heaven | For What We Are About to Receive | Better the Devil You Know