Arthur Mathews (writer)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Mathews 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
. He is a graduate of the Dublin Institute of Technology
. Previously, he attended Castleknock College
, a private school run by Vincentian priests.
http://www.chphotography.ie/photos/portrait/fullsize/Arthur%20Mathews.png
and, notably, the Ted & Ralph segments of The Fast Show
.
However, it was with Father Ted
(3 series, 1995–1998) that Linehan and Mathews made their biggest impression which debuted on 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
and Black Books
.
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
.
, Paul Woodfull
and Conor Phillips, 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.
Linehan and Mathews also made a rare appearance in the sitcom
I'm Alan Partridge
as two Irish men 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.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
who, often with writing partner Graham Linehan
Graham Linehan
Graham Linehan is an Irish television writer, actor, comedian and director who, often in partnership with Arthur Mathews, has written or co-written a number of popular television comedies...
, has either written or contributed to a number of popular television comedies, most notably Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
. He is a graduate of the Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology
Dublin Institute of Technology was established officially in 1992 under the but had been previously set up in 1978 on an ad-hoc basis. The institution can trace its origins back to 1887 with the establishment of various technical institutions in Dublin, Ireland...
. Previously, he attended Castleknock College
Castleknock College
Castleknock College is a private , secondary school for boys aged between 13 and 18, which is situated in the residential suburb of Castleknock, 8 km west of the city centre in Dublin, Ireland.-History:...
, a private school run by Vincentian priests.
http://www.chphotography.ie/photos/portrait/fullsize/Arthur%20Mathews.png
Television
Mathews has contributed to many sketch shows, including Harry Enfield and Chums, The All New Alexei Sayle ShowThe All New Alexei Sayle Show
The All New Alexei Sayle Show was a comedy sketch show broadcast on BBC2 television for a total of twelve episodes, over two series in 1994 and 1995...
and, notably, the Ted & Ralph segments of The Fast Show
The Fast Show
The Fast Show, known as Brilliant in the US, was a BBC comedy sketch show programme that ran for three series from 1994 to 1997 with a special Last Fast Show Ever in 2000. The show's central performers were Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Simon Day, Mark Williams, John Thomson, Arabella Weir and...
.
However, it was with Father Ted
Father Ted
Father Ted is a comedy series set in Ireland that was produced by Hat Trick Productions for British broadcaster Channel 4. Written jointly by Irish writers Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan and starring a predominantly Irish cast, it originally aired over three series from 21 April 1995 until 1 May...
(3 series, 1995–1998) that Linehan and Mathews made their biggest impression which debuted on Channel 4.
Both Linehan and Mathews worked on the first series of sketch show Big Train
Big Train
Big Train is a surreal British television comedy sketch show created by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, writers of the successful sitcom Father Ted...
, but Linehan dropped out for the second series. Mathews has also had a hand in other respected British comedies such as Brass Eye
Brass Eye
Brass Eye is a UK television series of satirical spoof documentaries. A series of six aired on Channel 4 in 1997, and a further episode in 2001....
, Jam
Jam (TV series)
Jam was a postmodern British dark comedy series created, written and directed by Chris Morris, and broadcast on Channel 4 during March and April 2000...
and Black Books
Black Books
Black Books is a British sitcom television series created by Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan and produced by Nira Park, first broadcast on Channel 4 from 2000 to 2004...
.
In 1999 Linehan and Mathews created the sixties-set sitcom Hippies
Hippies (TV series)
Hippies is a six-part British television comedy series broadcast from 12 November to 17 December 1999. It was created by Arthur Mathews and Graham Linehan, the writing partnership most famous for Father Ted, but the scripts were written by Mathews alone.It starred Simon Pegg, Sally Phillips, Julian...
, but the six-part series (which
starred Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg
Simon Pegg is an English actor, comedian, writer, film producer, and director. He is best known for having co-written and stared in various Edgar Wright features, mainly Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and the comedy series Spaced.He also portrayed Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the 2009 Star Trek film...
and Sally Phillips
Sally Phillips
-Career:Sally Phillips was the only woman in the 1990 Oxford Revue THRASH which also starred Ed Smith. She did nine consecutive Edinburgh Festivals, appearing in shows such as Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Arthur Smith's version of Hamlet and Cluub Zarathustra with Simon Munnery, Stewart Lee, Richard Thomas,...
) 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
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
.
Theatre
In 2005, Mathews, with Michael NugentMichael Nugent
Michael Nugent is an Irish writer and activist. He has written or co-written five books and the comedy musical play I, Keano. He has campaigned on many political issues, often with his late wife Anne Holliday, and he is chairperson of the advocacy group Atheist Ireland...
, Paul Woodfull
Paul Woodfull
Paul Woodfull is an Irish writer, actor, comedian and musician. He has written two television series, a CD and the comedy musical play I, Keano. He is a graduate of the National College of Art and Design in Dublin...
and Conor Phillips, co-wrote I, Keano
I, Keano
I, Keano is a comedy musical play about footballer Roy Keane leaving the Republic of Ireland national football team before the 2002 FIFA World Cup....
, a comedy musical play about footballer Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
leaving the Republic of Ireland national football team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
before the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
.
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 two books:- Well Remembered Days: Eoin O'Ceallaigh's Memoirs of a Twentieth-century Irish Catholic—Arthur Mathews (Paperback – Macmillan – March 9, 2001) ISBN 0-333-90163-0. This book received many positive reviews.
- "Father Ted": The Complete Scripts—Graham Linehan, Arthur Mathews. (Paperback – Boxtree – October 20, 2000) ISBN 0-7522-7235-7
Cartoons
Mathews has had two cartoon series published:- "Doctor Crawshaft's World of Pop", in NMENMEThe New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
(1992–93)
- "The Chairman", in the Observer Sports Monthly (2003–4)
Television appearances
Mathews has made cameo appearances in programmes he has written.Linehan and Mathews also made a rare appearance in the sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
I'm Alan Partridge
I'm Alan Partridge
I'm Alan Partridge is a BBC situation comedy starring Steve Coogan, of which two series of six episodes each were produced — the first in 1997 and the second in 2002...
as two Irish men considering Alan Partridge
Alan Partridge
Alan Gordon Partridge is a fictional radio and television presenter portrayed by English comedian Steve Coogan and invented by Coogan, Armando Iannucci, Stewart Lee and Richard Herring for the BBC Radio 4 programme On The Hour...
(Steve Coogan
Steve Coogan
Stephen John "Steve" Coogan is a British comedian, actor, writer and producer. Born in Manchester, he began his career as a standup comedian and impressionist, working as a voice artist throughout the 1980s on satirical puppet show Spitting Image. In the early nineties, Coogan began creating...
) 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
I Am Not an Animal
I Am Not an Animal is an animated comedy series telling the tale of highly intelligent animals rescued from a vivisectionist laboratory and forced to live on their own. The series was made and directed by Peter Baynham. It was produced by Baby Cow Productions and ran on BBC2 in the United Kingdom...
, an animated comedy series about talking animals written by Peter Baynham
Peter Baynham
Peter Baynham is a screenwriter and a British comedian, writer, and performer. He often collaborates with Armando Iannucci and Chris Morris and has worked with Stewart Lee and Richard Herring. He is first heard on Morris' early radio DJ slots, often going out to places...
. He voiced a rabbit called Niall who had had his brain replaced with that of a call centre worker.