Father Ted writer's court process starts

Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has appeared in court over allegations he harassed a transgender woman

The Irish comedy writer  pleaded not guilty to that charge and another of criminal damage to the phone of 18-year-old Sophia Brooks. The iincident is said to have happened at the Battle of Ideas conference in London in October.

Linehan appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London to lodge his plea in the case, that will go to trial on September 4 and is expected to last two days.

He was granted bail on condition he did not contact the complainant directly or indirectly.

Outside court, the 56-year-old thanked his supporters while wearing a T-shirt saying: ‘‘Trans women are not women’. It was a reproduction of the Daily Telegraph front page heralding the Supreme Court’s decision that a woman is defined by biological sex.

Linehan – who also created The IT Crowd –  added that he had spend six years ‘defending women’ against a ‘dangerous ideology’ and faced ‘abuse and threats’. But he added: ‘I’m still here.  I’ve lost a great deal, but I will not waver in my resolve.’

On social media he said he could not comment on the case but asked his supporters to point out any ‘deceitful journalism’ on the matter. 

One supporter was seen outside court with a sign saying ‘careful now’, mimicking a placard Father Dougal brandished in Father Ted.

Earlier this week, television producer Jimmy Mulville told how Linehan refused an offer to buy him out from the planned Father Ted musical, claiming the writer refused permission for the project  even if he 'drops dead'.

Speaking on his podcast  Insiders, he said Linehan's views on trans issued had made him too toxic for the project and explained: 'I had a conversation with Graham in which I said, "Look, this show isn't going to get made with your name on it, there's no reputable theatre that will make it".

'I offered to buy him out. I said, 'The only way that your brainchild can see the light of day is if you do the very difficult thing of absenting yourself from the production', which, of course I understand is incredibly difficult for him and I didn't expect him to jump at it."

'Things went from bad to worse... He even said that if he drops dead, it’s in his will that we can’t do the musical. I feel sad for the fans; it would have been such a brilliant show.'

Published: 13 May 2025