A NORTH-EAST priest said the effects of strong painkillers he was taking for his bad back inspired him to apply for a winning appearance on a TV gameshow.

Father Paul Farrer, youth chaplain and vocations director for the Middlesbrough Catholic Diocese, is delighted after winning over £6,000 on a recent edition of popular ITV show The Chase.

But he admitted trying to get his face on TV wasn't a natural choice for him.

Father Paul, originally from Hull and a priest for 20 years, said: "I only applied on pain-killers. I was doolally."

He filmed his episode of the show in April, but applied to be a contestant back in 2012 when he was waiting for a back operation and doctors had given him morphine for the pain.

The show was screened on September 29 and Father Paul has now donated some of his winnings to support local charities, as well as arranging a trip to Harry Potter World, in Hertfordshire, for his nieces.

Asked about his experience on the TV show, he added: “I was totally nervous. I got ten questions right in the task builder but was nervous at the multiple choice and started getting easy questions wrong.

“I managed to get home but wasn’t bothered about the money.

"I thought as long as I don’t get any religious questions wrong, I’ll be okay."

It was a tense finish to the show as ‘Chaser’ Paul Sinha almost caught Father Paul and the priest admitted he wasn’t initially aware he and two other contestants had won the shared cash prize of £20,000.

He added: “I didn’t realise we’d won at first. I think you can tell that when you watch the show.

“I finished filming at 3.30pm and was back at Kings Cross for 4.15pm.

"I wanted to tell people I’d just won on The Chase."

Despite showing off his impressive general knowledge on The Chase, hosted by Bradley Walsh, Father Paul has ruled out appearing on any more quiz shows.

He joked: "I’ve done my bit now, I’m going to retire on a high."