‘Father Ted’ star Ardal O’Hanlon says adding trigger warnings to episodes is ‘truly ridiculous’

Ardal O’Hanlon has dismissed a Father Ted trigger warning as "truly ridiculous".

The comedian, best known for playing Father Dougal in the 1990s sitcom alongside the late Dermot Morgan as Father Ted, reacted to the decision after Channel 4 added a trigger warning to some classic episodes on its streaming service earlier this month.

The Channel 4 comedy remains hugely popular decades after its original run, and fans were surprised to see it receive the same treatment as other classic sitcoms like Fawlty Towers and Dad’s Army, which have also carried trigger warnings in recent years.

A flagged episode, Are You Right There, Father Ted, includes a scene where Morgan’s character unintentionally appears to mock Chinese people while wearing a lampshade on his head.

In another moment, a poorly placed mark on a window makes it look like he has a Hitler-style moustache.

A warning on the episode reads: "This episode was made in 1998 and contains language and racial impersonation which some viewers may find offensive."

Speaking on Good Morning yesterday, O’Hanlon agreed with host Richard Madeley, who called the warning "preposterous," arguing that concerns over causing offence had gone too far.

Madeley questioned the decision, telling O’Hanlon: "I find this preposterous. What could be more gentle than Father Ted?"

O’Hanlon responded: "I know, I’m with you on that. I don’t get it. You should have trigger warnings going into the supermarket maybe as well, some of the foodstuffs might offend you.

"Where do we start and where do we end? It is truly ridiculous."

Kate Garraway attempted to move the chat on, but O’Hanlon continued: "He’s got me going now. You’ve got to give people some credit."

Madeley added: "If there are references that wouldn’t be made in 2025, well that’s because it was shot 30 years ago, guys."

The Irish star said: "It’s like you have trigger warnings on the news – as if people are going to sit down and go, ‘oh, the news is on, this should be fun’."

The ITV host then said: "Can I shake your hand? It drives me mad when I’m watching the news."

"You’re supposed to be offended, it’s the whole point of the news," O’Hanlon said.

Madeley replied: "It’s a report from the front line of a war zone, I get it, I don’t need to be warned about it."