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Tough Crowd
- How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy
- Narrated by: Graham Linehan
- Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins
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Tough Crowd
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Summary
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.
Critic reviews
"A must-read. Funny and utterly compelling." (Jonathan Ross)
What listeners say about Tough Crowd
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Barbara Roberts
- 13-11-23
Funny & Though Provoking or as Father jack wouls say “Feck”
A really good listen and a must for anyone interested in writing. I’ve come away with a huge amount of respect for Graham & his stubborn streak. He’s spot on surely people will stop posturing & say it like it is, biology is real & im glad I grew up when belonging to a tribe meant enduring great and sometimes dodgy music instead of belonging to a tribe where I can choose between a number of body modifications & still be what I was born but with a lesser life span and horrible side effects. The misery & confusion caused mainly by this new Men’s rights movement and their sway over such a captured audience is breathtaking in its audacity. It’s funny how all these elderly men refer to themselves as girls never woman but girls, their fetish on full view. This is a very good account of a modern witch trial & I hope it’s author knows that for every eejit actively destroying his career their are just as many cheering him on, shame on HatTrick & it’s censoring of Father Ted the Musical Your a righteous man Graham keep going Looking forward to your next book already Go on Go on
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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- David Greenly
- 10-11-23
I did not expect this at all
I love Farther Ted. I like the IT Crowd. I had seen Graham Linehan on the train to Norwich on a few occasions over time. I’d wanted to say thanks for the laughs but never did.
I enjoyed hearing about the journey into comedy. I had no idea the book would also cover the other darker side of Grahams life. It’s essential reading or listening. Everyone will make their own minds up. I’d never given the subject much thought but did throughout the reading / listening.
If I saw Graham again on a train I would this time say thanks for the laughs - and the education.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- amcm
- 12-11-23
Emotional, hilarious, riveting
Absolutely fascinating and consumed in three sessions (which is rare for me). Graham reminds us that we have a comic genius locked out of a struggling industry in what amounts to being collective masochism. Obvious emotion in his voice during many sections just add to this audio book and I'd recommend even if you own a hard copy.
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- Mike Vorgon
- 11-11-23
Excellent
Two great books in one: the stuff about writing comedy is outstanding. The story of what he has endured is heartbreaking. His courage is inspiring. A great read, a sound man. I hope that someone someday will stage the Ted musical.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 07-11-23
Brilliantly interesting
Fantastic for fans of his shows. Eye opening last few chapters and not bitter at all. Even though he has a right to be.
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- Graeme
- 10-11-23
Right side of history
Both laugh out loud and upsetting in parts. But then that’s life for most of us if we’re honest.
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- Ms J. McKenna
- 31-10-23
Wonderful
A tour de force of wit, courage and dogged clear-sightedness. This was an entertaining and inspiring listen. The dangerous and despicable operations of the trans-gender cult in its authoritarian and dictatorial, obsessive oppression of critical opinion are laid bare, here. This is an important account of the social, cultural and personal impacts of aggression, masked and parading in the phoney guise of an equal rights movement that fights to promote ‘trans rights’ above women’s sex-based rights, which it seeks to submerge under the stamp of its gender cult. I could go on, but Graham Linehan has done that so readably and so powerfully, thank you, Mr Linehan.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 31-10-23
Phenomenal
This is a great book— part memoir, part guide to comedy writing, part commentary on the culture wars and the insanity of gender identity ideology. Linehan is an excellent writer, a true craftsman. Tough Crowd is funny, self-deprecating and bleakly sad. I hope those friends who abandoned Graham reach out to him & I hope this brilliant book helps to resurrect his career. Ignore the media bias and judge the book by its own merits. It’s a truly great read. Congratulations to Eye Books for supporting it through to publication. Finally, Linehan narrates Tough Crowd himself which brings it to dazzling life.
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- Rebekah
- 04-11-23
Prepare to laugh and be outraged
Very worthwhile listen from Graham, a fascinating account of how he got into comedy, the art of making us laugh, and his subsequent removal from polite (read: cowardly) society. In the absence of the Father Ted musical (why, HatTrick, why?), this is a worthy use of anyone's time.
Thank you, Graham, for your refusal to give up the fight.
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- jeanette senior
- 30-10-23
Fantastic Book & Great Narration
I couldn't stop listening- loved the humour and honesty. Hopefully the tide is turning now.
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