Graham Linehan
Graham Linehan (; born May 1968) is an Irish comedy writer and anti-transgender activist. 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. He has won five BAFTA awards, including Best Writer, Comedy, for The IT Crowd in 2014. After an episode of The IT Crowd was criticised as transphobic, Linehan became involved in anti-transgender activism. He argues that transgender activism endangers women and he has likened the use of puberty blockers to Nazi eugenics. Linehan says his views have lost him work and ended his marriage. Early life Linehan was born in Dublin in 1968. He attended Catholic University School, a Roman Catholic secondary school for boys in Dublin. Comedy career In the 1980s, Linehan joined the staff of the Dublin politics and music magazine Hot Press, where he met his future writing partner. In their early collaborations, they were responsible for 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