Ted and Ralph

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 four series of the show, and have arguably been regarded as the most popular characters that the show produced.

Lord Ralph Mayhew is a middle-aged rich country squire who lives in his family mansion surrounded by lush countryside. He has never been married or had children - due to the fact that he is secretly in love with his Irish estate worker Ted. Ralph was inspired by a documentary on film director John Boorman where he struggled to converse with his Irish gamekeeper.

Ted has worked for Lord Mayhew's late mother and father before Ralph inherited the estate, always referring to trying to fix the drainage in the lower field. His never-seen wife Esther (often referred to as Mrs. Ted) died at the end of the third series, leaving Ted with more freedom to express his love for Ralph in return- though rarely doing so.

All of the sketches revolve around Ralph trying to stir up a relationship with Ted, he is always exceedingly nervous in approaching him. A bashful Ted snubs off any attempts at a deeper relationship with his catchphrase Well, I wouldn't know about that, sir or something similar.

Ted and Ralph were the first characters to have their own spin off show outside of the sketches. This came in the form of a Christmas Special in 1999, in which Ted tries to save Ralph from an arranged marriage which he deeply doesn't want. Paul Whitehouse also gives Rowley Birkin a cameo in this story.

Ralph eventually successfully wooed Ted, and in the final shot of the series, they were seen walking gaily into the sunset- although Ted was seen to suddenly fall, so he may well be dead- or possibly not.

References

This article is based on a GNU FDL LGBT Wikia article: & Ralph Ted & Ralph

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