AS DINNER was served at the Pavilion, diners were interrupted by the noisy arrival of three Irish priests and their housekeeper.

Based on the wonderfully irreverent Father Ted TV show, Father Ted, naively scheming; Father Dougal, endearingly dim; Father Jack, scarily alcoholic, and Mrs Doyle, pushing a squeaky tea trolley, combined to produce an evening of surreal mayhem.

Diners’ tables were energetically sprinkled with “holy water” from large water pistols while dribbling, dishevelled Father Jack marauded around the room swigging Jack Daniels, bellowing “Drink!”, “Girls!” and other unholy expletives, and growling Wild Thing.

Mrs Doyle, wearing a tea cosy on her head and a big hairy wart on her face, launched into the audience crooning the theme from Titanic while cajoling mortified diners to sing along: “Ah, go on, go on, go on!”

Father Dougal, the hyperactive hugger, led his own uniquely demented exercise class.

Father Ted, holding the show together, improvising manically, encouraging the chaos, led the energetic “priests’ cabaret” – the sidesplitting Men In Black.

The frenetic finale featured Mrs Doyle leading a line (of by now very happy and willing diners) in a hysterically funny version of Riverdance-style Irish dancing.

Laughlines’ four actors were superb, dinner was beautifully prepared and presented, the show hilarious!

Laughlines returns to Bournemouth Pavilion for more merriment and mayhem in Mamma Mia It’s Murder!

Dinner Show on November 30, and Fawlty Towers Dinner Show December 6 & 7.