The IT Crowd actor Richard Ayoade has defended the show’s creator Graham Linehan as a ‘man of great principle’ – after attracting criticism for praising the showrunner’s book on being cancelled over his stance on trans rights.
Linehan, the award-winning comic writer behind Father Ted claims his career and marriage has been destroyed over his gender-critical views, which he began expressing after an episode of The IT Crowd was criticised as allegedly transphobic.
The Irish writer published a memoir last year, 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.’
Richard Ayoade has sought to clarify his remarks on Graham Linehan’s book after he was criticised for contributing a cover quote
Linehan later praised Ayoade’s ‘bravery’ in praising his memoir – but the actor has since said he thought the book was ‘well-written’
Graham Linehan wrote Tough Crowd after his marriage and career fell apart as he began expressing his views on transgender rights
Ayoade entered the mainstream in his role as Moss on Channel 4 comedy The IT Crowd, written by Linehan (pictured alongside Katherine Parkinson, Matt Berry and Chris O’Dowd)
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.
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 Trans 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.’
The Father Ted writer says his marriage and career have been destroyed by his unflinching stance on women’s rights.
Since his account was reinstated on social network X, formerly Twitter, under new owner Elon Musk, Linehan posts several times a day about transgender issues.
He also claims a stage musical based on the religious comedy series was cancelled because he refused to agree to the removal of his name from its credits.
