Ted & Ralph
Encyclopedia
Ted and Ralph are fictional characters created by Arthur Mathews
and Graham Linehan
, played by Paul Whitehouse
and Charlie Higson
in the BBC
comedy sketch show The Fast Show
. They featured in all three series of the show, and are arguably the most popular characters that the show produced.
in his early 30s who lives in his family mansion
on an expansive country estate. He has never married or had children - because he is secretly in love with his Irish
estate worker Ted. He is painfully shy and reserved (occasionally hinted to have been mentally ill in the past), which is the basis of most of the humour in the sketches. Other characters, when seen, seem aware of Ralph's sexuality and uncomfortable in his presence, particularly Ted's fellow working class friends. Ralph was inspired by a documentary on film director
John Boorman
where he struggled to converse with his Irish gamekeeper
.
Ted had worked for Lord Mayhew's late mother and father before Ralph inherited the estate. Ralph's parents were cold and uncaring, so it can be assumed that his affection for Ted was due to his idolising him as a father figure. Ted is wiser than he seems and occasionally profound: Ralph sees through Ted's social status and takes his opinion very seriously. It is obvious, though he hides it well, that Ted has a great deal of affection for Ralph. He never joins in making fun of him with his mates and on one occasion defends him when a friend makes a joke that refers to Ralph's feelings for him. Ted seems to want to protect Ralph's innocence, not letting his friends shoot Ralph's deer because he "likes to see them wandering about". Ted's wife Esther (often referred to as Mrs. Ted) died at the end of the third series. Ted's relationship with her seemed more familiar and comfortable than passionate, though he took it very badly when she died. Ted tried to maintain his sober and collected attitude towards life and death when he and Ralph returned to the estate after his wife's funeral, but in a rare moment of raw emotion collapsed with grief in Ralph's arms.
Ralph is tremendously nervous around Ted, the two of them never looking each other in the eye. Ralph often rambles on when approaching him, in monologues of unconnected topics. As the show progresses the two appear to develop a closer relationship, occasionally going fishing together and sharing more personal conversations.
Ralph eventually wooed Ted through an impassioned performance of "Hunka-Hunka Burning Love", performed in front of Ted and his mates while he was drunk at the pub.
Creators Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews have said that "They're both Gay. Ralph is GAY gay. As Gay as a window. But Ted's more repressed Gay..."
also gives Rowley Birkin a cameo in this story. As this is a prequel, Ted's now-deceased wife also appears on screen for the first and only time, played by Kathy Burke
.
Arthur Mathews (writer)
Arthur Mathews is an Irish comedy writer and actor who, often with writing partner Graham Linehan, has either written or contributed to a number of popular television comedies, most notably Father Ted. He is a graduate of the Dublin Institute of Technology...
and Graham Linehan
Graham Linehan
Graham Linehan is an Irish television writer, actor, comedian and director who, often in partnership with Arthur Mathews, has written or co-written a number of popular television comedies...
, played by Paul Whitehouse
Paul Whitehouse
Paul Whitehouse is a Welsh actor, writer and comedian. He became known for his work with Harry Enfield and as one of the stars of the popular BBC sketch show, The Fast Show. In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was in the top 50 comedy acts voted for by comedians and comedy insiders...
and Charlie Higson
Charlie Higson
Charles Murray Higson , more commonly known as Charlie Higson - also Switch - is an English actor, comedian, author and former singer...
in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
comedy sketch show The Fast Show
The Fast Show
The Fast Show, known as Brilliant in the US, was a BBC comedy sketch show programme that ran for three series from 1994 to 1997 with a special Last Fast Show Ever in 2000. The show's central performers were Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Simon Day, Mark Williams, John Thomson, Arabella Weir and...
. They featured in all three series of the show, and are arguably the most popular characters that the show produced.
Characters
Lord Ralph Mayhew is an impoverished aristocratAristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
in his early 30s who lives in his family mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
on an expansive country estate. He has never married or had children - because he is secretly in love with his Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
estate worker Ted. He is painfully shy and reserved (occasionally hinted to have been mentally ill in the past), which is the basis of most of the humour in the sketches. Other characters, when seen, seem aware of Ralph's sexuality and uncomfortable in his presence, particularly Ted's fellow working class friends. Ralph was inspired by a documentary on film director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
John Boorman
John Boorman
John Boorman is a British filmmaker who is a long time resident of Ireland and is best known for his feature films such as Point Blank, Deliverance, Zardoz, Excalibur, The Emerald Forest, Hope and Glory, The General and The Tailor of Panama.-Early life:Boorman was born in Shepperton, Surrey,...
where he struggled to converse with his Irish gamekeeper
Gamekeeper
A gamekeeper is a person who manages an area of countryside to make sure there is enough game for shooting, or fish for angling, and who actively manages areas of woodland, moorland, waterway or farmland for the benefit of game birds, deer, fish and wildlife in general.Typically, a gamekeeper is...
.
Ted had worked for Lord Mayhew's late mother and father before Ralph inherited the estate. Ralph's parents were cold and uncaring, so it can be assumed that his affection for Ted was due to his idolising him as a father figure. Ted is wiser than he seems and occasionally profound: Ralph sees through Ted's social status and takes his opinion very seriously. It is obvious, though he hides it well, that Ted has a great deal of affection for Ralph. He never joins in making fun of him with his mates and on one occasion defends him when a friend makes a joke that refers to Ralph's feelings for him. Ted seems to want to protect Ralph's innocence, not letting his friends shoot Ralph's deer because he "likes to see them wandering about". Ted's wife Esther (often referred to as Mrs. Ted) died at the end of the third series. Ted's relationship with her seemed more familiar and comfortable than passionate, though he took it very badly when she died. Ted tried to maintain his sober and collected attitude towards life and death when he and Ralph returned to the estate after his wife's funeral, but in a rare moment of raw emotion collapsed with grief in Ralph's arms.
Sketches
The sketches often follow a loose outline: Ted is working on the estate, Ralph approaches him nervously and tries to strike up a conversation, culminating in asking Ted to spend time with him ("Are you interested in French cinema, at all, Ted?") and Ted gently turns him down.Ralph is tremendously nervous around Ted, the two of them never looking each other in the eye. Ralph often rambles on when approaching him, in monologues of unconnected topics. As the show progresses the two appear to develop a closer relationship, occasionally going fishing together and sharing more personal conversations.
Ralph eventually wooed Ted through an impassioned performance of "Hunka-Hunka Burning Love", performed in front of Ted and his mates while he was drunk at the pub.
Creators Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews have said that "They're both Gay. Ralph is GAY gay. As Gay as a window. But Ted's more repressed Gay..."
Prequel special
Ted and Ralph were the first characters to have their own spin off show outside the sketches. This came in the form of a made-for-television film in December 1998, in which Ted tries to save Ralph from an arranged marriage which he deeply does not want. It is the first time, it appears, that we start to see Ted realising that he may be in love with Ralph. He is deeply hurt and jealous when Ralph starts to spend less time with him and obsessively observes Ralph's relationship with his new love, Wendy. However, despite Ralph's rejection, he still passionately defends him towards the end of the film, saying to Wendy (who just wanted to get her hands on Ralph's estate), "You've beguiled a kind, gentle, innocent, albeit slightly foolish man. You've taken away his hopes, his dreams, his past. Not to mention the lower field." Wendy redeems herself at the end of the film by leaving before signing the documents that would turn the estate over to her and her brother. It would appear that she has also realised how Ted and Ralph feel about each other, saying to Ted, "This house belongs to him. And to you." and "I didn't know it would be like this. I didn't know he was-", presumably she was about to finish the sentence with some reference to Ralph's sexuality. She also says, while gripping Ted's hands and looking meaningfully into his eyes, "He doesn't know what he wants Ted, but it isn't me." Paul WhitehousePaul Whitehouse
Paul Whitehouse is a Welsh actor, writer and comedian. He became known for his work with Harry Enfield and as one of the stars of the popular BBC sketch show, The Fast Show. In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian, he was in the top 50 comedy acts voted for by comedians and comedy insiders...
also gives Rowley Birkin a cameo in this story. As this is a prequel, Ted's now-deceased wife also appears on screen for the first and only time, played by Kathy Burke
Kathy Burke
Katherine Lucy Bridget Burke is an English actress, comedienne, playwright and theatre director. She is best known for her portrayals of Perry in the Harry Enfield film Kevin and Perry Go Large, and of Linda La Hughes in the British sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme...
.