Chris O’Dowd is the latest star to back Graham Linehan after the Father Ted creator was ‘cancelled’ for his outspoken criticisms of transgender issues.
The Irish comedian, 45, said the comedy writer was the ‘best I’ve worked with’ and revealed his wish for him to be back working in the industry.
O’Dowd rose to fame after starring as the loveable workshy Roy Trenneman in Channel 4’s The IT Crowd, which was written by Linehan.
He is still in touch with the comedy writer and sends him text messages to let him know about fans lavishing praise on his work.
Although O’Dowd hasn’t seen Linehan in a few years, he told The Times: ‘I always get in touch with him and let him know, “I just want you to know how much f***ing love I get for your work”.’
In recent years Linehan has become a vocal critic of trans ideology and activism, claiming it is harming children and eroding women’s rights.
He was even banned by Twitter in 2020 for saying ‘men aren’t women’ and his views have seen him shunned.
His account was reinstated under Elon Musk following the tech billionaire’s £38.1 billion takeover of the social media platform in October 2022.
Chris O’Dowd attending the Irish Film and Television Academy Awards at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre — February 14, 2025
Chris O’Dowd (second left), Graham Linehan (second right), Richard Boden (centre left), Matt Berry (centre) and Ash Atalla (below centre right) pose with presenters Michael McIntyre (left) and Tess Daly (right) after winning the Situation Comedy award for the IT Crowd — April, 2009
O’Dowd, however, did not want to be drawn on Linehan’s views but added: ‘I do think that it’s a shame that more people don’t go and talk to him about them because – whether I agree with them or not – they’re not peripheral.’
O’Dowd’s backing comes after his IT Crowd co-star Richard Ayoade last year defended award-winning comic writer Linehan as he described him as a ‘man of great principle’.
The Irish writer published a memoir in 2023, entitled Tough Crowd, which featured a positive quote from Ayoade on the cover.
But Ayoade, who starred as Maurice Moss in the BAFTA-winning comedy, says Linehan has experienced a ‘harrowing time’ amid the fall-out from his remarks, adding that he believed a book Linehan wrote about his experiences was ‘good’.
The actor’s quote, featured on the cover of Tough Crowd, said of Linehan: ‘His brilliance in prose is equal to his brilliance as a screenwriter.’
A fuller quote from Ayoade, featured in publicity materials, noted: ‘Graham Linehan has long been one of my favourite writers – and this book shows that his brilliance in prose is the equal to his brilliance as a screenwriter.
‘It unfolds with the urgency of a Sam Fuller film: that of a man who has been through something that few have experienced but has managed to return, undaunted, to tell us the tale.’
Ayoade’s warm words for the man who gave him the role that made him mainstream prompted criticism from fans. He has now defended his review as being based on Linehan’s skills as a writer – not necessarily his viewpoints.
Comedy writer Graham Linehan at a Let Women speak rally at Merrion Square in Dublin — September, 2023
O’Dowd’s backing comes after his IT Crowd co-star Richard Ayoade last year defended award-winning comic writer Linehan as he described him as a ‘man of great principle’
Ayoade and O’Dowd entered the mainstream on Channel 4 comedy The IT Crowd, written by Linehan (pictured alongside Katherine Parkinson and Matt Berry)
Speaking on Gyles Brandreth’s Rosebud podcast, Ayoade said: ‘He’s had, I think, a very harrowing time.
‘But I wrote (the review) because he wrote an autobiography and his involvement, I suppose, he would frame it in terms of women’s rights as opposed to being anti- anything, so I wanted to say I thought his book was well-written and good.
‘I think he’s a great writer, a brilliant writer, and I think everyone who would know him would know he’s a man of great principle, I think.’
Linehan’s book was also praised by Jonathan Ross, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas author John Boyne, GB News presenter Andrew Doyle and author Helen Joyce.
The Irishman later praised his fellow celebrities for their support, noting: ‘I’m hoping that their bravery will mean that other people can just say what they think about this subject.’
