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Tough Crowd

How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy

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About this listen

Having cut his teeth in music journalism, Graham Linehan became the finest sitcom writer of his generation. He captured the comedy zeitgeist not just as the co-creator of Father Ted but also with The IT Crowd and Black Books, winning five BAFTAs and a lifetime achievement award.

Then his life took an unexpected turn. When he championed an unfashionable cause, TV commissioners no longer returned his emails, showbiz pals lost his number, and his marriage collapsed.

In an emotionally charged memoir that is by turns hilarious and harrowing, he lets us into the secrets of the writing room and colorfully describes the high-octane atmosphere of a sitcom set. But he also berates an industry where there was no one to stand by his side when he needed help.

Bruised but not beaten, he explains why he chose the hill of women and girls' rights to die on—and why, despite the hardship of cancellation, he's not coming down from it any time soon.

©2023 Graham Linehan (P)2023 Graham Linehan Activists Politics & Activism Funny Comedy Witty Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking

Critic reviews

"A must-read. Funny and utterly compelling." (Jonathan Ross)
All stars
Most relevant
Well worth a listen, it serves as a warning as to what happens to people who say anything relating to support previously established facts and knowledge that contradicts the current narrative

Excellent

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The first half of the book offers a fascinating insight into the craft involved in creating a successful sitcom. Father Ted is a masterpiece! The second half is a much darker account of the author’s experiences over the past six years. It’s extremely well written and made even more powerful by the author narrating it himself. I’m angered and saddened at what Graham has been put through and admire him immensely for having the courage to express views in the face of vitriolic persecution.

Excellent

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laugh out loud funny, Graham is a great among our best loved comedy writers. Thank you for a you do and have done, and thank you for Father Ted

incredibly funny and deeply moving

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Proof positive that man who has made me laugh so much over the years can also, on occasion, reduce me to tears. The abandonment of Linehan by most of his comedy so-called friends is indicative of the bright streak of yellow that permeates most self-back-slapping celebs of today. “Tough Crowd” is brave, eye-opening, and very, very funny.

Should be required reading for cowardly progressives

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Brilliantly written and read by Glinner. Laugh out loud funny in places, full of interesting tales of comedy writing and production, sadness at his losses and hope that we’re all making a difference. I hope the tide turns soon for all our sakes but I’ll miss his big misshapen head in the middle of the crowds at women’s events when it does.

Funny, fascinating, heartbreaking and hopeful.

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