National broadcaster RTÉ accused of antisemitism for decision to screen satirical 1996 Eurovision episode in boycott of contest
It is considered one of the funniest episodes of a beloved sitcom, but the Father Ted storyline about Eurovision has been dragged into the row over Israel’s participation in this week’s song contest.
Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTÉ, which is boycotting the competition in protest against Israel’s inclusion, will instead broadcast the 1996 episode A Song for Europe, in which the characters Father Ted and Father Dougal perform their song My Lovely Horse and earn nul points.
The decision prompted condemnation on Tuesday from Graham Linehan, one of the show’s creators, who accused RTÉ of using the show as “a tool of antisemitic harassment” and said it was an “act of pointed, gleeful counter-programming”. He demanded the resignation of the broadcaster’s director-general, Kevin Bakhurst.
The Irish news site Extra.ie, however, hailed the move as “genius trolling” and referred to it as “my lovely boycott”.
