Richard Curtis found Hugh Grant 'annoying' and wanted Alan Rickman to play the lead

The late Alan Rickman was also a strong contender to play Charles and was neck-and-neck with Hugh Grant for the lead role.

Curtis was initially against Grant as he found him "a bit posh" and irritating, but he was very happy with the choice when filming had wrapped.

He recalled: "Eventually it was down to Hugh and Alan Rickman and I went for Alan but I was outvoted.

I just thought Hugh was a bit annoying, too good looking, a bit posh. I was right about all of those things but he is also very good."

Rickman and Grant actually starred alongside each other in Curtis' other romantic classic rom-'Love Actually' in 2003.