Ardal O'Hanlon joins cast of new Channel 4 drama London Irish

Father Ted actor Ardal O'Hanlon has been cast in Channel 4 drama London Irish (Getty Images)

Father Ted star Ardal O'Hanlon is joining the cast of a new near-the-knuckle Channel 4 comedy about Northern Irish pals growing up in London.

The comic actor has just finished filming his role in the forthcoming series London Irish, which is to be screened this autumn.

O'Hanlon - best known for his role as naive Father Dougal in the hit 1990s comedy set on Craggy Island - stars as the father of the family in the new show.

He said: "London Irish is a fresh, cheerfully outrageous, no-limits comedy. There isn't a taboo that goes unexplored. I'm delighted to play Da, who's oblivious to all that. The writing is fearlessly funny and the cast ridiculously charismatic."

His children in the new show, Conor and Bronagh - played by Kerr Logan and Sinead Keenan - are at the centre of the story, along their fellow ex-pat friends Patrick (Peter Campion) and Niamh (Kat Reagan).

The series has been written by Derry playwright Lisa McGee, who has also written for TV shows such as BBC3's Being Human and Channel 4's girl-band comedy drama Totally Frank.

PA