Graham Linehan in the Times

[Igneococcus]

I wish they'd put it in the main paper rather than the Scotland section:

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/8c85b4ba-0d01-11ec-9503-f24d9e0411ae?shareToken=e1879f56c612595d4281520d6ea0821c

He co-wrote Motherland too, which has been something of a sleeper smash hit. He's far from the writing scrap heap!

This man is the epitome of brave, and dare I say chivalrous. When he sees women being treated like shit, he uses his status to help because he simply can't not.

I met him last week at the Scottish Parliament demo, he indulged my mum with a lovely picture and was so smiley to all the women who wanted to thank him or shake hands.

He's mind-boggling tall. And just a kind person. So grateful for decent men like him, I have a personal shitlist of guys who absolutely should be standing firm for us like this giant does.

I think that's a fucking horrible, patronising article. Nasty sneering tone. Okay, it airs some of the GC arguments, but the whole thing is pitched for them to be dismissed by 'reasonable' people. I'll bet Glinner is annoyed by it.

If that was the plan, the comments show that it didn't work.

@orangejuicer

Would re watching IT crowd and Father Ted help in any way? Ratings etc?

No he gets no money from these (Scandalous really)

The Substack is his main source of income atm. I've taken out a paid subscription because I read it everyday and I just felt I owed him.

@OldTurtleNewShell

I think I want "The house is on fire" on a t shirt.

One of the reasons Linehan is seen as such a threat by trans activists is because he is such a talented writer.
He has an unerring sense of the absurd and puts across the nub of the issue with clarity and humour.
Being called out for their crap and getting people to laugh at it? No wonder TRAs hate him so much.

This is spot on!

Thank you so much Graham if you're reading. You really truly are brave (and stunning)

I wish more prominent people had the courage to speak out the way you have.

In terms of TV profile I was thinking but I don't know how it works and what he gets after all this time when eps are shown.

I think I read a comment by him somewhere where he said he doesn't get royalties on DVD sales or episodes being reshown - but you might want to check. There's a book of the Father Ted scripts on Amazon and he probably does get royalties on those.

At the risk of coming all over Owen "wrong side of history" Jones, I like to think that when this is all over, and the history books are written, Graham will be recognised as one of a handful of heroes who stood up for what is right. His efforts stand in stark contrast to the vast majority of cowards and misogynists who have refused even to acknowledge the attack on women's rights, let alone fight it.

I'm watching IT Crowd S1E1 now. There's mixed-sex toilet jokes and JK Rowling references. It's spooky.

This whole situation is more than a little McCarthyite. But in that case blacklisted Hollywood writers came over here and wrote Robin Hood.

Graham's fighting for the rights of women, which so few men every really do, and never in my memory with his total passion. It's no wonder that he gets the same kind of insults thrown at him as we do: over-emotional, unstable, over-sensitive. I'm amazed no one's called him hysterical.

Imagine a world where every man was a Graham Linehan and how different women' lives would be. When this is over I want him feted: I want statues to him. But in the meantime I want to know why other British men aren't standing beside him, supporting him and being proud to be like him.

I can't believe more people don't find it absolutely chilling that this man is an example of how TRAs will try to fuck your life up.

Honestly, I followed him on Twitter and his comments were not outrageously offensive by any reasonable measure.

For a long time they tried the usual appeal to males (females they go straight for the rape threats) of head tilt "so disappointed" "are you ok?", but then it was the jugular and clearly spilled over into real life.

It's a clear signal pour decourager les autres and it's working.

Bravo Graham and thank you for your service. You are a Good Person.

The comments are very heartening indeed.
You're a diamond, Graham. Thank you.

@Igneococcus Yes, the comments are brilliant. On re-reading the piece, perhaps it's not that bad. There was just something in the tone I didn't like.

Thank you Graham.

I agree. Why isn't everyone obsessed?

So many are happy to talk of the overt horrors of Afghanistan. Why can't they call out what Western men do to women too? Or are we supposed to be grateful for the crumbs they throw us?

Not sure about the tone of the article. Mentioning the copious blogging, didn't mention that the blog is also a platform to women's voices.

Yes presumably Mike didn't actually read the blog or he would realise that Graham hadn't blogged personally 20 times but has made a space to amplify the voices of others.

There was a definite attempt to create a narrative about obsession (so over-investment), but I thought Glimmer dealt with that well.

Thank you Glinner

[quote Phobiaphobic]@Igneococcus Yes, the comments are brilliant. On re-reading the piece, perhaps it's not that bad. There was just something in the tone I didn't like.[/quote]
I didn’t like the tone either - I think the author was very disappointed not to be doing a fluffy cheery piece about Father Ted, and wished that Glinner would crack more jokes. It didn’t explain the context of Marian Millar’s court case, which you would normally expect, or go into the background of the girl guides issue.

I subscribe to Graham's sub stack too. It is great - like a PP said, he writes about the issues, but also opens it for others (mainly women] to do round ups/discussions. I also follow Baroness Nicholson's webinars (a heroic woman) and he is on her panel. We do appreciate you Graham, very much.

As one of the commenters under the article said, why so much focus on what Graham has lost, surely the story is why his voice is so rare amongst famous men?

I don't like the tone either. It's grudging and he takes a lot of sly digs. But then it's (rather badly) written by a bloke called Mike Wade whom no one has heard of and who probably wishes he had a hundredth of Glinner's talent and bravery.

I noticed that the article didn't link lots of useful things to previous Times articles. For example, it would have been easy to provide a hyperlink to the Times own coverage of the Guides scandal. I wonder why they chose not to do that?

Glinner is a hero in the truest sense of the word.

I sometimes worry about him and think he should do less social media. Write a book about this subject maybe? But then I remember he is a comedy writer , not an academic. His mind just doesn't work like that ; he is protean , impulsive and a bit impatient. He can't help jumping off at tangent or dropping his line of reasoning to tell a joke or anecdote. The Mess We're In is like three old friends in a pub putting the world to rights rather than some university debate. It's lovely to see Helen Staniland and Arty keeping him grounded. But of course newbies - especially from the USA- will sometimes appear in the comments asking ' who is Owen Jones / Aimee Challenor ' or asking for the backstory. G'wan Glinner!

He’s a fucking hero. Not only has his comedy output brought so much pleasure to me over the years, but now he’s doing this.

@rabbitwoman

Although I have reported your post, happydays, to some degree I see your point.

This debate, this fight, has obviously taken it's toll on Graham. He has paid a really high price for standing up for what he believes in. For me, it's a disgrace and supreme unfairness that history won't remember what an integral part he has played in turning the tide and exposing some of the worst aspects of this debacle,because when it ends - and end it shall - it will be with no fanfare, no announcements, thise responsible will just fade away and probably pretend they never said anything, try to forget it.... Whilst this man's reputation will be tarnished forever.

Well, I won't forget, he is amazing and I am grateful to him for what he does.

This. When it's over most people wont even realise it even happened. I wont forget all the brave women and men like Graham.

I like that the author gives Graham Linehan the chance to say everything that he says in this piece and quotes him verbatim, I think that is quite effective. Mike Wade has written fairly sympathetically about Joanna Cherry before, iirc.

I suppose it removes the possibility of calling the piece biased.

Oh aren't the comments wonderful I hope Graham reads every one.

Another who wants to say thank you to Graham and all who put their heads above the parapet.
Funnily enough, I watched Small, Far Away the World of Father Ted last night and laughed my socks off! What a talent! May I say thanks for that as well.