creator has admitted that he originally envisioned himself in the titular role of the Roman Catholic priest.

The Irish writer, 65, rose to fame in 1995 with the sitcom which quickly became a huge hit with fans across the country. Despite only running for three series, the show continues to be hailed as one of the best British comedy shows to come out of the 1990s.

However, the much-loved show could have looked completely different, after the comic admitted that he initally pitched the show with him in the leading role after portraying the iconic character in many of his early stand-up gigs.

In an email to , Mathews explained: "I did do Ted as a stand-up, but not for long. I always thought Dermot would be perfect once it was going to TV."

But despite his creative genius, Arthur ultimately passed over the role after he discovered his limited acting experience compared to the rest of the cast.

Instead, the infamous part went to the late actor , whose portrayal of Father Ted Crilly became a cornerstone of British and Irish comedy.

Although he didn't land the starring role, Mathews made several cameo appearances throughout the series. Fans might recognize him from his minor roles as Father Billy Kerrigan in the episide titled Entertaining Father Stone, and a bewildered picnic-goer in the later instalment of the Old Grey Whistle Theft.

He also played the part of Father Ben in The Plague, and Father Clarke in Speed 3. The decision to cast Dermot came after Mathews and co-writer saw him perform as the character Father Trendy.

His comedic timing and larger-than-life persona convinced the pair he was ideal for the role of Father Ted. And it's fair to say they made the right call after the sitcom went on to become a cultural phenomenon, running for three seasons between 1995 and 1998.

Arthur and Graham found their stride with Father Ted, and the series cemented their reputation as comedy powerhouses. After their early success, Arthur went on to contribute to other famous British sitcoms, including Black Books, The Catherine Tate Show, and Toast of London.

But the show's writer wasn't the only star who nearly featured in Father Ted. Mrs Brown's Boys star Brendan O'Carroll also auditioned for the role of Pat Mustard, the randy milkman who starred in the episode, Speed 3.

At the time, Brendan's audition impressed the writers, but scheduling conflicts forced him to turn down the part. The role eventually went to Pat Laffan, whose performance as the outrageous character became a highlight of the series.

Brendan later reflected on the missed opportunity, telling : "I so wanted to do the gig, but c'est la vie. The writers were easy to audition for - they even laughed. I was just one day away from being available."