Now taxpayers face a hectoring from Mrs Doyle

MRS DOYLE has found a new lease of life now that the Father Ted TV series is no more - except for repeats. The manic housekeeper with the brimming teapot is to take over from Hector the Tax Inspector in promoting the Inland Revenue's income tax self-assessment scheme.

Hector is handing over his thumbscrews to Mrs Doyle, who will nag "Aw, go on, go on, go o-o-on" in a 5 million newspaper, radio and TV campaign which begins with TV ads tonight and runs for six months.

Mrs Doyle will urge taxpayers who want the Revenue to do their calculations for them to make a return by the 30 September deadline, file by internet and in any case be sure that returns are in by 31 January or face a 100 fine.

Hector's voice was that of Sir Alec Guinness, who died aged 86 two years ago next month. Mrs Doyle is played by Pauline McLynn, 38. Father Ted was stopped in its tracks by the death from a heart attack of Dermot Morgan, who played the hapless priest. He collapsed in London while celebrating his 46th birthday in March 1998.

The Revenue can well afford the Mrs Doyle ad campaign, for self- assessment, introduced five years ago, is bringing in about 100 million a year from fines.

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