RTÉ may have pulled out of Eurovision 2026, but someone in the scheduling department clearly couldn’t resist one last act of showmanship.

While 200 million viewers across Europe tune in to the Grand Final from Vienna on Saturday night, RTÉ 2 will be airing Father Ted at 9pm.

But not just any episode, RTE will air (of course) the one where Ted and Dougal frantically write ‘My Lovely Horse’ in a bid to represent Ireland in a Eurovision-style song contest on Rugged Island.

You genuinely could not make it up.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 02: Delta Goodrem during an interview and portrait session ahead of Eurovision 2026 on April 02, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)

RTÉ confirmed in December that it would neither compete in nor broadcast any of the three Eurovision shows this week for the first time in 61 years.

The boycott was in protest at Israel’s continued participation, with RTÉ citing the ‘appalling loss of lives in Gaza.’

However, unless it’s an extraordinary coincidence, someone in RTE has decided that a boycott doesn’t have to be boring. And RTÉ’s replacement schedule across the three Eurovision nights this week reads like someone was having a very good time with the EPG.

Father Ted with Dermot Morgan as Father Ted Crilly and Ardal O'Hanlon as Father Dougal McGuire.
Father Ted with Dermot Morgan as Father Ted Crilly and Ardal O’Hanlon as Father Dougal McGuire.
Pic: Brian Moody/scopefeatures

Tuesday: Semi-Final 1 (8pm)

RTÉ One serves up Reeling in the Years (repeat) and Home Grown (repeat). RTÉ 2 counters with Home of the Year Scotland and, yes, another Father Ted repeat.

Thursday: Semi-Final 2 (8pm)

RTÉ One goes with Fair City at 8pm, followed at 8.30pm by The End of the World with Beanz, a travel show featuring none other than Eurovision legend Niamh Kavanagh.

RTÉ won’t show Eurovision, but they’ll happily put a former Eurovision winner on screen at the exact same time the semi-final is on.

Saturday: Grand Final (8pm)

RTÉ One opts for an animated comedy called Mummies, followed by the Lotto draw and the Nine O’Clock News.

RTÉ 2 gives us My Epic Camel Adventure, the iconic Father Ted Eurovision episode at 9pm, The Saturday Game, and then Jaws to close the night.

It’s just perfect.

What if you want to watch?

For Irish viewers who do want to watch the actual contest, BBC One will carry all three shows live, with Graham Norton on commentary for Saturday’s final.

The Eurovision YouTube channel will also stream the shows for free.

Ireland has won Eurovision seven times, still a joint record. This week, we most certainly won’t be watching and will instead be following RTE’s lead and humming along to My Lovely Horse.