Ted & 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 three series of the show, and are arguably amongst the most recognised characters that the show produced.

Characters

Lord Ralph Mayhew is an impoverished aristocrat in his early 30s who lives in his family mansion on an expansive country estate. He has never married or had children and is secretly in love with Ted his Irish estate worker. Ted is painfully shy and reserved, occasionally hinted to have previously suffered from been mental illness. 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. The juxtaposition of Ralph's over-friendliness and Ted's embarrassed silence forms the basis for the humour in the sketches. Other characters, when seen, particularly Ted's fellow working-class friends, seem aware of Ralph's sexuality and are uncomfortable in his presence. Ralph was inspired by a documentary about film director John Boorman where he struggled to converse with his Irish gamekeeper.