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Graham Linehan vs. transgender people

Graham Linehan is an Irish comedy writer and anti-transgender extremist. Linehan is associated with anti-trans hate group Genspect and has become one of the most prominent and strident anti-trans activists in history.

Background

Linehan was born on May 22, 1968 in Dublin. Linehan’s initial career was as a comedy writer. Linehan helped create and write on shows including Father Ted, Black Books, The IT Crowd, Count Arthur Strong, Brass Eye, and The Fast Show.

Linehan was married to writer Helen Serafinowicz from 2004 to 2020. They have two children.

Anti-transgender activism

Linehan became an anti-transgender activist after the 2008 The IT Crowd episode “The Speech” was criticized as transphobic. Channel 4 pulled the episode from their streaming service in 2020, infuriating Linehan.

Linehan’s subsequent fixation on trans people led to the end of both Linehan’s comedy career and marriage. A review of Linehan’s 2023 book Tough Crowd summarizes “the extremity of Linehan’s rhetoric”:

In my view, and that of his critics, some of his online remarks have been plainly and unapologetically transphobic: Linehan has characterised the trans rights movement as “paedophilic” and called trans activists and allies “groomers”. It’s true enough that his former life is in tatters: the controversies led to the end of his marriage, the abandonment of a planned, lucrative Father Ted musical, and his agent dropping him.

[…] Often, Linehan paints trans women as predators, men looking to insinuate themselves into women’s spaces in order to assault them with greater ease. When convenient, they are made out to be victims, brainwashed and exploited young queer people who are convinced to “mutilate” their bodies in the name of ideology. 

[…] To an extent, the book’s very existence disputes the pretence of Linehan to have been deplatformed. If Linehan had siloed his anti-trans views somewhat, rather than warp them into a life-consuming vocation, his once-glittering TV career might well have remained intact to this day.

In 2018, Linehan received a verbal warning from police following a dispute with Stephanie Hayden, a trans woman who sued Linehan for defamation.

In April 2025 Linehan was charged with harassment and criminal damage following a 2024 confrontation with Sophia Brooks, a 17-year-old transgender activist whose phone was reportedly damaged by Linehan, Linehan pleaded not guilty and was released on bail on the condition Linehan not contact Brooks. Linehan was cleared of the harassment charge and was ordered to pay a fine over the broken phone.

In September 2025, Linehan was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence after encouraging followers on X to assault trans women they find in sex-segregated spaces.

The Mess We’re In podcast

Linehan started an interview show in 2020 that frequently has conservative, ex-trans, and anti-transgender guests.

For the full episode list with guests, see The Mess We’re In.

References

Staff report (October 25, 2025). Linehan cleared of harassing trans activist but guilty of damaging phone. BBC News https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjrj4520rrwo

Melley, Brian (October 20, 2025). TV writer Graham Linehan won’t face charges for transgender post that sparked UK debate. AP News https://apnews.com/article/graham-linehan-father-ted-transgender-posts-arrest-bbf936f63a152c3abe162198084f546b

Riedel, Samantha (September 4, 2025). Father Ted‘s Graham Linehan in Court For “Harassing” Trans Teen Days After Arrest Over Transphobia. them https://www.them.us/story/graham-linehan-transphobia-anti-trans-arrest-court

Stff report (September 2, 2025). TV writer Graham Linehan’s arrest over transgender posts sparks free speech outcry in the UK. AP News https://apnews.com/article/graham-linehan-father-ted-x-posts-arrest-b5728b93a1e5b3b0d833c3321c8ea51d

Chilton, Louis (October 13. 2023). The problems with Graham Linehan’s memoir Tough Crowd. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/features/graham-linehan-tough-crowd-book-trans-b2428578.html

Williamson, Harriet (April 16, 2023). Anti-trans mouthpiece Graham Linehan suspended from Twitter…again. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/16/anti-trans-graham-linehan-suspended-twitter-again/

Burrows, Marc (December 30, 2022). Opinion: Why do people like Graham Linehan keep choosing this hill to die on? The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/graham-linehan-twitter-trans-rights-b2253532.html

Wakefield, Lily (1 October 2022). Anti-trans activist Graham Linehan says he’s no longer sure about COVID vaccines or climate change. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2022/10/01/graham-linehan-covid-transphobia-climate-change/

Crellin, Zac (April 19, 2022). Father Ted creator rallies global support for Katherine Deves and her anti-trans comments. The New Daily https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/politics/australian-politics/federal-election-2022/2022/04/19/katherine-deves-graham-linehan-trans/

Dodds, Io; Woodward, Alex (April 14, 2022). The GOP ‘grooming’ smear is sparking a new wave of anti-LGBT+ violence. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/republicans-disney-groomer-harassment-lgbt-people-b2058272.html

Rose, Anna (March 25, 2022). ‘Father Ted’ musical axed following Graham Linehan’s controversial views. NME https://www.nme.com/news/tv/father-ted-musical-axed-following-graham-linehans-controversial-views-3190721

Dalwood, Charlotte (January 6, 2022). The alt-internet of anti-trans activists. rabble.ca. [archive]

Moore, Sam (October 25, 2021). Matt Berry comments on ‘transphobic’ IT Crowd episode. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/matt-berry-transphobic-it-crowd-episode-b1944874.html

Berlatsky, Noah (April 20, 2021). Harassers Use Substack Sign-Ups to Spam Trans People and Allies. The Observer https://observer.com/2021/04/substack-transphobia-email-sign-ups-harassment/

Clute, Emily (April 18, 2021). The IT Crowd: The Controversial Episode that Killed the Hit Comedy Series. Screenrant https://screenrant.com/it-crowd-controversy-graham-linehan-april-transphobic-bad/

Kelleher, Patrick (21 February 2021). Graham Linehan joined a queer women’s dating app to share trans people’s profiles. It backfired, badly. PinkNews [archive]

Wakefield, Lily (December 3, 2020). Disgraced comedy writer Graham Linehan boasts he’s back on Twitter with a ‘new sim card’ after being kicked off for a second time. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/12/03/graham-linehan-twitter-new-account-transphobia-sim-card-ban-hateful-conduct/

Wakefield, Lily (December 1, 2020). Disgraced comedy writer Graham Linehan, booted from Twitter for hateful conduct, returns with fake ‘trans guy’ account. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/12/01/graham-linehan-twitter-scarlysimon-trans-rights-sock-account-colm-ogorman/

Krol, Charlotte (October 9, 2020). Channel 4 pulls IT Crowd episode over transphobic content. NME https://www.nme.com/news/tv/channel-4-pulls-it-crowd-episode-over-transphobic-content-2778346

Horbury, Ezra; Yao, Christine (1 August 2020). Empire and Eugenics: Trans Studies in the UK. Transgender Studies Quarterly. 3 (7): 445–454. https://doi.org/10.1215/23289252-8553104

Andrews, Penny (2020). Choose your fighter: Loyalty and fandom in the free speech culture wars. Manchester University Press, ISBN 978-1-5261-5255-8

Burns, Katelyn (December 19, 2019). J. K. Rowling’s transphobia is a product of British culture. Vox https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/12/19/21029874/jk-rowling-transgender-tweet-terf

Wakefield, Lily (June 12, 2019). NSPCC employee who hired Munroe Bergdorf gets homophobic abuse. PinkNews https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/06/12/nspcc-employee-hired-munroe-bergdorf-homophobic-abuse/

Staff report (January 22, 2019). Gamer Hbomberguy hands funding row charity Donkey Kong boost. BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-46961883

Asarch, Steven (January 20, 2019). Twitch stream pulls in $250,000 for Mermaids charity featuring Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Owen Jones and more. Newsweek https://www.newsweek.com/twitch-stream-pulls-250000-mermaids-charity-featuring-alexandria-ocasio-1298710

Duffy, Nick (October 11, 2018). Father Ted writer Graham Linehan compares trans activism to Nazism. PinkNews https://www.thepinknews.com/2018/12/11/father-ted-graham-linehan-trans-nazis/

Staff report (October 7, 2018). Father Ted writer given harassment warning. BBC News https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45777689

Gentleman, Amelia (October 19, 2015). How heartbreak led Helen and Graham Linehan to campaign for abortion in Ireland. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/19/graham-helen-linehan-ireland-abortion-amnesty-international

Gabbatiss, Josh (July 7, 2018). London Pride: Anti-trans activists disrupt parade by lying down in the street to protest ‘lesbian erasure.’ The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/anti-trans-protest-london-pride-parade-lgbt-gay-2018-march-lesbian-gay-rights-a8436506.html

Jones, Alice (May 30, 2015). Inside the comic world of Peter Serafinowicz: The spoof video master is heading to Hollywood. The Independent https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/inside-the-comic-world-of-peter-serafinowicz-the-spoof-video-master-is-heading-to-hollywood-10279558.html

Edemariam, Aida (June 11, 2011). The Saturday Interview: Graham Linehan. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2011/jun/11/the-saturday-interview-graham-linehan

Anti-trans coverage

Boffey, Daniel (September 3, 2025). How Graham Linehan’s gender activism led to career armageddon. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/sep/03/how-graham-linehan-gender-activism-led-to-comedian-career-and-personal-armageddon

Brown, Lee (March 17, 2023). ‘Father Ted’ creator Graham Linehan blames trans war for ending his marriage. New York Post https://nypost.com/2023/03/17/father-ted-creator-trans-war-left-me-broke-and-single/

McGowan, Michael (April 14, 2022). NSW Liberal candidate likens anti-trans activism to opposing the Holocaust. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/apr/14/nsw-liberal-candidate-likens-anti-trans-activism-to-opposing-the-holocaust

O’Connor, Wayne (March 14, 2021). TV writer Graham Linehan: How my transgender views cost me my marriage. Belfast Telegraph https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/republic-of-ireland/tv-writer-graham-linehan-how-my-transgender-views-cost-me-my-marriage-40194554.html

Blackall, Molly (June 27, 2020). Twitter closes Graham Linehan account after trans comment. The Guardian

Gataveckaite, Gabija (June 10, 2020). Hozier and Father Ted creator Graham Linehan join Twitter row over JK Rowling comments. Irish Independent https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/hozier-and-father-ted-creator-graham-linehan-join-twitter-row-over-jk-rowling-comments-39276937.html

Falvey, Deirdre (January 21, 2019). Graham Linehan: Trans activists ‘don’t realise the damage’ they do. The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/graham-linehan-trans-activists-don-t-realise-the-damage-they-do-1.3765979

Haugh, Ben (December 18, 2019). Father Ted creator Linehan creates own social network to defy Twitter after transgender row. The Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/father-ted-creator-linehan-creates-own-social-network-to-defy-twitter-after-transgender-row-cfzw7xls0

Murphy, Sandra (January 22, 2019). How Graham Linehan went from national treasure to divisive figure for trans community. extra.ie https://extra.ie/2019/01/22/news/irish-news/video-graham-linehan-trans-views-cost-him-national-treasure-title

Lyons, Izzy (October 7, 2018). Transgender lawyer launches UK’s first ‘deadnaming’ case against Father Ted writer Graham Linehan. The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/10/07/transgender-lawyer-launches-uks-first-deadnaming-case-against/

Coyle, Colin (October 7, 2018). Father Ted writer Graham Linehan warned by police after ‘trolling’ transgender activist. The Sunday Times https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/father-ted-writer-graham-linehan-warned-by-police-after-trolling-transgender-activist-wqfwqgsxn

Halliday, Josh (October 7, 2018). Graham Linehan given police warning after complaint by transgender activist. The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2018/oct/07/graham-linehan-police-warning-complaint-by-stephanie-hayden-transgender-activist-twitter

Kelly, Guy (January 16, 2015). Graham Linehan interview: ‘On the streets, Twitter trolls would be considered sociopaths.’ The Telegraph https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/11342851/Graham-Linehan-interview-On-the-streets-Twitter-trolls-would-be-considered-sociopaths.html

Selected writing by Linehan

See Linehan’s Substack The Glinner Update for a running anti-trans commentary.

Linehan, Graham (September 2, 2025). I Posted on X. The British Police Arrested Me. The Free Press https://www.thefp.com/p/i-posted-on-x-the-british-police-arrested-me-free-speech

Book

Linehan, Graham (2023). Tough Crowd: How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy. Eye Books Ltd, ISBN 978-1785633065

Media analysis

Brigitte Empire (February 3, 2024). Dissecting Graham Linehan’s Transphobic Book (ft. The Leftist Cooks). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbHbYnlJtPs

Paul The Robin (March 5, 2021). Graham Linehan: A Study – A Decline into Transphobia, Bigotry & Brainrot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_35QK–u7Q

Media

Spiked with Georgina Mumford and Graham Linehan (December 3, 2025). ‘They’re little Hitlers’ | Graham Linehan on his decade-long persecution by trans activists. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsdj6cCLeKs

TRIGGERnometry with Konstantin Kisin, Francis Foster and Graham Linehan (November 30, 2025). Graham Linehan: Arrested for Trans Tweets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BMdCpttzd0

Timcast with Tim Pool and Graham Linehan (October 17, 2025). Leftist NO KINGS Protest Begins, Antifa EMBEDS, Riots & Violence FEARED Nationwide | Timcast IRL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-IpmerAIBU

Megyn Kelly with Graham Linehan (September 8, 2025). Comedy Writer Graham Linehan on the Social Media Posts Defending Women Leading to His ARREST in UK. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aXFEYlieAc

Jordan B. Peterson with Andrew Doyle and Graham Linehan (September 2, 2025). Europe Imploding | Andrew Doyle & Graham Linehan | EP 506. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykfUbIjtjEY

Spiked with Brendan O’Neill and Graham Linehan (August 14, 2025). Graham Linehan: Is Britain a lost cause? | The Brendan O’Neill Show. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2aOqM7l050

The Joe Rogan Experience with Joe Rogan and Graham Linehan (August 6, 2025). Joe Rogan Experience #2361 – Graham Linehan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03V2ZnXyEDA

Spiked with Graham Linehan, Tom Slater, and Fraser Myers (April 25, 2025). The trans meltdown, with Graham Linehan | spiked podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH9gfix3ro8

Genspect with Graham Linehan (March 15, 2025). How Institutions Were Captured Without a Fight – Graham Linehan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSE4bpVmYUE

heretics with Andrew Gold and Graham Linehan (September 23, 2024). Gender Insanity Went VIRAL Because of THESE Celebrities – Graham Linehan (4K) | heretics. 94. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtliX5oSvGk

Quillette with Zoe Booth and Graham Linehan (Aprill. 11, 2024). Graham Linehan Was Right About Gender Ideology. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-yZ3vGJ_7o

The New Culture Forum with Amy Gallagher and Graham Linehan (March 3, 2024). “I Popularised the Term ‘Grooming’ ‘”. “Trans is Middle-Class Nihilism” (Graham Linehan). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lmLQD5o5aE

Spiked with Graham Linehan (December 27, 2023). Graham Linehan’s last laugh | A spiked documentary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxgRbPnucg8

TRIGGERnometry with Konstantin Kisin, Francis Foster and Graham Linehan (December 20, 2023). Backstabbed By Comedy Industry – Graham Linehan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=va6hXYTMBDI

Gender: A Wider Lens with Stella O’Malley, Sasha Ayad, and Graham Linehan (November 30, 2023). EP 144: Glinner is a TERF with Graham Linehan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJHyJ15mJ-A

heretics with Andrew Gold and Graham Linehan (November 18, 2023). The World’s Most Canceled Man – IT Crowd Creator Graham Linehan | heretics. 1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhMkwSPGUt0

UnHerd with Graham Linehan (October 17, 2023). Graham Linehan: I lost my comedy career to a mass delusion. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQyXIp-Rs2E

Karl Martin (September 22, 2023). Graham Linehan, woman (arrested for objecting to man in female toilets) speak #LetWomenSpeakDublin. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FnVCrs2Scw

Graham Linehan (March 24, 2022). My interview with Stephen Nolan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3St5XimKi6U&t=345s

UK Parliament (March 9, 2021). Subject: Freedom of expression online. Communications and Digital Committee. parliamentlive.tv https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/5236fc59-47ae-41c9-93f7-4ea16b5782c3

BBC / Newsnight with Sarah Smith and Graham Linehan (February 11, 2020). Father Ted creator Graham Linehan on trans rights.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e79k6LILL1I alt url https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08305wc

GBNews (August 16, 2022). Graham Linehan: ‘Trans activists tried to destroy my life’ after BBC interview on Tavistock Centre. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IhgIXf2_WE

Triggernometry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOriXC2O4x0

Derrick Jensen and Graham Linehan (9 December 2018). Resistance Radio – Guest: Graham Linehan (Podcast). Podbean. The opposition is so extreme and so frightening that eventually everyone is asking you to stop. My feeling is that I can’t, because it’s too important. It’s too important to the women in my life and it’s too important to me. I’m now in a position where I can answer the question honestly of, if you were around at the time of something terrible happening like Nazism, or whatever it happened to be, would you be one of the people who said “no, this is wrong”, despite being opposed? I feel happy in myself that I’ve been one of the people standing up and saying “no, this is wrong”, despite everyone telling me not to do it.

The Same Drugs with Meghan Murphy and Graham Linehan (January 23, 2019). Graham Linehan on Twitter, trans activism, and why he won’t just shut up. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mP6RZud4ls

Resources

Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)

RationalkWiki (rationalwiki.org)

IMDb (imdb.com)

X/Twitter (x.com)

Substack (substack.com)

WordPress (wordpress.com)

YouTube (youtube.com)

The Free Press (thefp.com)