Name Arthur Mathews Role Writer | ||
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Awards British Academy Television Award for Comedy and Comedy Entertainment Programme Nominations British Academy Television Award for Best Scripted Comedy TV shows Similar People Graham Linehan, Dermot Morgan, Matt Berry, Ardal O'Hanlon, Frank Kelly | ||
60 seconds with matt berry and arthur mathews
Arthur Mathews (born 30 April 1959 in Castletown Kilpatrick, Navan, County Meath) is an Irish comedy writer and actor who, often with writing partner Graham Linehan, has either written or contributed to a number of popular television comedies, most notably Father Ted.
Contents
- 60 seconds with matt berry and arthur mathews
- Arthur mathews tesla s last assistant 1 3
- Early life
- Television
- Theatre
- Books
- Cartoons
- Television appearances
- Personal life
- References
Arthur mathews tesla s last assistant 1 3
Early life
Mathews attended Castleknock College, a private school run by Vincentian priests. He then graduated from the Dublin Institute of Technology with a degree in graphic design. He played drums in spoof U2 tribute act "The Joshua Trio" with Paul Woodfull, with whom he would later work on I, Keano. He worked as art editor for Hot Press, leaving in 1991 to move to London.
Television
Mathews has contributed to many sketch shows, including Harry Enfield and Chums, The All New Alexei Sayle Show and, notably, the Ted & Ralph segments of The Fast Show.
However, it was with Father Ted (three series, 1995–1998) that Linehan and Mathews made their biggest impression which debuted on Channel 4. The pair had previously co-written the comedy Paris (one series, 1994), also for Channel 4.
Both Linehan and Mathews worked on the first series of sketch show Big Train, but Linehan dropped out for the second series. Mathews has also had a hand in other respected British comedies such as Brass Eye, Jam, Black Books and more recently Toast of London.
In 1999 Linehan and Mathews created the sixties-set sitcom Hippies, but the six-part series (which starred Simon Pegg and Sally Phillips) was written by Mathews alone.
In late 2003, the writing duo were named one of the 50 funniest acts to work in television by The Observer.
Theatre
In 2005, Mathews, with Michael Nugent and Paul Woodfull, co-wrote I, Keano, a comedy musical play about footballer Roy Keane leaving the Republic of Ireland national football team before the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
It is presented as a mock-epic melodrama about an ancient Roman legion preparing for war. In its first two years, over half a million people watched it, generating €10m ($13m) in ticket sales. In January 2008, it began its fourth year of performances.
Books
Mathews has written three books:
Cartoons
Mathews has had two cartoon series published:
Television appearances
Mathews has made cameo appearances in programmes he has written.
Linehan and Mathews also made a rare appearance in the sitcom I'm Alan Partridge as two Irishmen considering Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan) for a contract. In the absence of a picture, Mathews is the fairer haired of the two in the scene mentioned (though according to the episode's commentary, this is a wig).
Mathews also starred in I Am Not An Animal, an animated comedy series about talking animals written by Peter Baynham. He voiced a rabbit called Niall who had had his brain replaced with that of a call centre worker.
Personal life
Mathews has supported Drogheda United since the 1970s.