| 1 . Homer Simpson – The Simpsons |
Some – earnest Yank fundamentalists, mainly – may have criticised Homer for being uneducated, weak in character and morally unprincipled, but at least he is there. And he’s also loyally staunch to his family; look at when Lisa yearned for a pony – he took a second job working for Apu, and almost killed himself in the process. Yup, he’s not always effective in his efforts but that makes his devotion to his family all the more touching. Contrast Homer’s child rearing skills with those of his pious, self righteous neighbour Ned Flanders, and you get the feeling that if any of those kids are going to end up with issues in later life, it’s going to be the Flanders boys. Hang in there Homer.
Verdict: dependable
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| 2 . Ross Geller – Friends |
Ross ‘co-parents’ Ben with his ex-wife and her lesbian lover, and is also a dad to Emma with his exgirlfriend, Rachel. Though he gets on with his fatherly duties heroically, his subconscious suggests turmoil: “I had a dream last night where I was laying football with my kid… actually with him. I’m on this field, and they hike me the baby, and I’ve got to do something, ‘cause the Tampa Bay defence is coming right at me...”
Verdict: complicated
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| 3 . Jim Royle – Royle Family |
We’ve marked the bearded goon down for that catchphrase, but on the plus side he likes a laugh, actually engages with his family (in a crude form) and doesn’t go down the pub every night. And who could forget when he manfully reassured his daughter Denise after her waters broke in his bathroom? All he’s got to do is get a job, cut down on the potty mouth and get new face and he’d be the perfect dad.
Verdict: hairy
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| 4 . Al Bundy – Married With Children |
While his wife (Peg) and teenage terrors Kelly and Bud blame their miserable lives on shoe salesman Al’s shortcomings, at least he instilled in his children the true worth of family: “Your mother is just a Bundy by marriage. She’s part of the curse. But we are blood Bundys.We are truly doomed.”
Verdict: downtrodden
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| 5 . Martin Crane – Frasier |
Quite how former cop Marty managed to bring up two such fastidious culture vultures as Niles and Frasier remains a mystery, but as the man himself explains: “I used to think there was some sort of mix-up at the hospital when Frasier was born. Of course, when Niles came along, it shot that theory all to hell.”
Verdict: savvy
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| 6. Father Ted – Father Ted |
He may not be a father in the biological sense but the way he cares for the child-like Dougal, who loves Byker Grove and Buckaroo, is akin to a father/son relationship. Dougal: “But I should be allowed to do what I want. I am 26 you know. You still treat me like I was... 24.” Ted: I’ll tell you what Dougal. I’ll start treating you like a 26-year-old when you start acting like a 26-year-old… Anyway it’s time for your bath.”
Verdict: ecumenical
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| 7. Del Boy – Only Fools and Horses |
Although Trigger once opined: “If it’s a girl they’re calling her Sigourney after an actress, and if it’s a boy they’re naming him Rodney after Dave,” Del named his newborn son Damien. And what a proud new pop he was.We salute David Jason for perfectly portraying that rousing, emotional, exhausted moment when you finally realise you’re a dad.
Verdict: inspiring
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| 8. Reggie Perrin – The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin |
Reggie’s mother-in-law was a hippopotamus, his boss was a buffoon and his daughter and her exceedingly dull husband spawned two dreadful kids called Adam and Jocasta (who memorably ruined a visit to a safari park – “I done biggies!”). No wonder he faked his own suicide.
Verdict: desperate
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| 9. Ben Harper – My Family |
Ignore the fact that the recent series have been pants: the early shows perfectly portrayed the mental anguish of being a pop to three grown-up kids (and a husband to someone who’s as mad as a box of frogs). Comedy characters they may be but Nick, Janey and Michael are enough to drive any man to drink.
Verdict: courageous
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| 10. Alf Garnet – Til Death Us Do Part |
Granted,Warren Mitchell’s character was a profane, bigoted old git, but he probably strikes a chord with many ‘old school’ families. Fiercely protective of his kin and castle, he’d rant like a pissed-up lunatic to anyone who’d listen, and, when his daughter Rita (Una Stubbs) hooked up with a layabout, at least he had the balls to tell him exactly what he thought he was: “a randy Scouse git.”
Verdict: misguided
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