Graham George Linehan, Irish comedy writer and anti-transgender activist, is born in Dublin on May 22, 1968. He created or co-created the sitcoms Father Ted (1995–1998), Black Books (2000–2004), and The IT Crowd (2006–2013), and he has written for shows including Count Arthur Strong, Brass Eye and The Fast Show. Early in his career, he partners with the writer Arthur Mathews. He has won five BAFTA awards, including Best Writer, Comedy, for The IT Crowd in 2014.
After an episode of The IT Crowd is criticised as transphobic, Linehan becomes involved in anti-transgender activism. He argues that transgender activism endangers women, and likens the use of puberty blockers to Nazi eugenics. He says his views have lost him work and ended his marriage.
Linehan attends Catholic University School, a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys. In the 1980s, he joins the staff of the Dublin politics and music magazine Hot Press, where he meets his future writing partner, Arthur Mathews. In their early collaborations, they create segments in sketch shows including Alas Smith and Jones, Harry Enfield & Chums, The All New Alexei Sayle Show, The Day Today and the Ted and Ralph characters in The Fast Show. They continue their collaboration with Paris (one series, 1994), Father Ted (three series, 1995–1998), and the first series of the sketch show Big Train. They also write the “Dearth of a Salesman” episode for the series Coogan’s Run, which features the character Gareth Cheeseman. In late 2003, he and Mathews are named one of the 50 funniest acts to work in television by The Observer. Father Ted wins BAFTA awards for Best Comedy in 1996 and 1999.
Linehan writes for the satirical series Brass Eye (1997), Blue Jam (1997–1999) and Jam (2000). With the actor Dylan Moran, he creates the sitcom Black Books (2000–2004). He writes and directs the 2006 Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd, in which he seeks to move away from the British trend towards mockumentary comedies. Unlike many series of the time, it is recorded before a studio audience. In November 2008, he is awarded an International Emmy for The IT Crowd. In 2013, he writes and directs the sitcom The Walshes. He co-writes the first series of the BBC sitcom Motherland and directs its pilot episode. In 2014, he wins his fifth BAFTA, for Best Writer, Comedy, for his work on The IT Crowd. He is also nominated for Count Arthur Strong.
In 2018, Linehan and Mathews announce plans for a Father Ted musical. Lineham says it will finish the series as they had planned it before the death of the lead actor, Dermot Morgan. The musical is cancelled by producers following the controversy over Linehan’s views on transgender rights. In December 2024, he announces plans to move to Arizona to work on a sitcom and create a production company with the comedians Rob Schneider and Andrew Doyle.
seamus dubhghaill 