Arthur Mathews (writer)

Arthur Mathews (born 30 April 1959 in 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.

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.

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 (3 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 (1 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.

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