I bought the DVD series because I was desired to see it. None of the local PBS stations in the New York City area bothered to show it in recent years, I found Arthur Lowe to be the heart and soul of this show as Father Duddleswell. The young actor, Daniel A., plays a young priest named Father Neil Boyd. I have to say the comic humor is dryer than Father Ted. The show explores the elder father's flaws such as his gambling habit and the younger priest's naivety. Also, I love Gabrielle Daye as Mrs. Pring who may not always be approving of Father Duddleswell but she's great as their opinionated housekeeper. I have only seen a few episodes but the writing and acting are solid. Guest stars like Peter Bowles and Sheila Keith make it worth watching. I don't know why people don't think priests or sisters are interesting worthy to be treated as a subject. If I was born a male, I would probably have been a priest myself.
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Sylviastel17 March 2007
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joeyblue-5195326 August 2021I had mixed thoughts when I started watching this series, but I was pleasantly surprised. The characters are warm and the show draws you in, it has its own unique atmosphere. It's good fun and one of Arthur Lowe's best sitcoms after Dad's Army I feel, an underrated gem of a show in my opinion.
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alphaspace11 August 2001This show was about Catholic Saint Jude < Patron Saint of Hopeless Cases > Parish life in a small suburban London town set in the early 1950's.
People wrongly label this show as one of true interest to those who hold dear the Catholic faith. I am a born cradle to grave Baptist never been anything but what Father Duddellswell would call a Protestant. I a born if not practicing Baptist love this show about Catholic life its funny filled with insights of a kinder gentler time. Father Boyd is a heart warming earnest man wanting so much to please God in the doing of his tasks as a Curate as his dry humor remains a perfect comedic foil to the wild Godly humane but irascible Father Charles Duddellswell. The good Doctor Day who one never sees sober in the whole series always brings his good cheer. The show is filled with tons of old Irish sayings; such as you were walking on both sides of the road when you came here. Ladies wearing blouses with necklines cut wider than a ducks wake. There's no future in the Past, Vexed as an Irish stew or a Woman's Motives and, lots more. Your eyes are already glassy, as teddy bears, May God Be In your Road, Always keep more up your sleeve than your elbow and more. Then there's Mother Stephen a saintly woman myopically set on the taking point position in her orders single minded mission of making the Mother Foundress of the order a saint. Mother Stephan has a face that looks as if its set in cast iron but she too is a kind caring if stern soul. Mother Foundress had some stern rules witch still govern their order. Mother Foundress who one sees really only in one episode in a painting seems a very severe and stern woman holding a human SKULL yikes!
This show is just good clean fun. I do not think it's awesome... I do not think it's dated at all the sets look real. The people seem real and genuine. This show has heart real heart. I guess the show will never feel dated to me because Father Charles Duddellswell proves you can be a bit of a rascal and, have fun at being a very good and, upstanding spiritual man. If only more spiritual types were like Father Duddellswell and, Father Boyd our world would be an awesome place. -
kjbertrand3 June 2007Why on Earth has this series,(never to my knowledge), been repeated. It would be timeless. I enjoyed every episode when first shown. The rapport between Arthur Lowe and Daniel Abineri was so very believable of that between a Priest and his Curate. The characters are just so believable, and I am sure that the story lines are as appropriate today as they would have been in the 50's when the series was set. Arthur Lowe as Fr Duddleswell shows just what a superb character actor he was, and for all his bluff Fr. Duddleswell comes across as a very compassionate man. (Exactly as Lowe portrayed Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army). Come on someone please take this up.!!!! (Perhaps UKTV Gold).
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gary-6465922 November 2018I never got around to watching this when it was first released -- I was in my youth, and Arthur Lowe's character seemed far too stuffy on first sight compared with his recent long-running Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army. But I've enjoyed very much all I've seen of it when shown recently on UKTV. Can't agree that it's a "gentle look" at Catholicism because it's so well written with so much talent on display (and behind the scenes) and the main character is so pithy and deep -- that it leaves the premise of "Father Ted" (much later) having stand-up comics perform looking second rate.
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Rabical-918 December 2020After giving up his army surplus when 'Dad's Army' ended on the BBC, Arthur Lowe went over to ITV to don priest robes for 'Bless Me Father', scripted by Peter De Rosa.
Set in the 1950's, it was yet another run of the mill ecclesiastical offering, lining alongside the likes of 'All Gas & Gaiters', 'Our Man At St Marks' and 'Oh Brother!' ( which was then followed by 'Oh Father!'' ). Lowe played Father Charles Duddleswell, a grumpy Irish Catholic priest who takes under his wing young novice priest Father Neil Boyd ( Daniel Abineri ), for whom his service in the pulpit is not easy.
Duddleswell also makes life difficult for his live-in housekeeper Mrs. Pring ( Gabrielle Daye ), who seems to let his brusque manner brush over her head.
'Bless Me Father' was popular enough to run on London Weekend Television for three series. I was not keen on it myself. Religious comedies are not really my thing ( with the exception of 'Father Ted' ). Still, it was miles better than the dire 'A.J. Wentworth, B.A', which Lowe had the misfortune to have cemented as his final sitcom due to his death in 1982.