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Tough Crowd

How I Made and Lost a Career in Comedy

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Tough Crowd

By: Graham Linehan
Narrated by: Graham Linehan
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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 Art & Literature Authors Cultural & Regional Entertainment & Celebrities Performing Arts Politics & Activism Social Sciences Sociology Funny Comedy Witty Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

"A must-read. Funny and utterly compelling." (Jonathan Ross)
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Wow, did not know Graham had been involved in so many comedy hits. Why are Hatrick being so cowardly about putting on ‘Father Ted’ the Musical? Probably because one person in the company is a trans extremist.They should be ashamed of themselves.
Best wishes for the much better future you deserve, Graham.

A great listen

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Great book. Graham tells us the history of his TV career in a wonderfully entertaining way. The second half of the book focuses on his recent fight for the rights of women, girls and children which is as heartbreaking as it is encouraging

Funny and Heartbreaking at the same time

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As someone who came to know you through the women rights movement. I can honestly say that Graham (along with others mentioned in his book) helped me save my own daughter from the cult. He published one of my experiences with TRAs on his substack and is an all round gent. I promise I will binge watch Father Ted! See you at the next rally. WE WILL WIN. Thank you for the gift of this book. Taylor Advocate

What can I say

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This is a fascinating insight into Grahams beginnings as a writer through to his "cancellation" just for standing up for women. I'll always be thankful he spoke out for women and girls.

Great book hooked from start to finish

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A whistle stop tour through a splendid comedy career, followed by a dive into a toxic internet war which, as Linehan passionately argues, has spilled out into the real world in genuinely horrifying ways.

The stuff about comedy writing and storytelling is excellent and illuminating. The latter section is more dense, and perhaps assumes a higher level of familiarity with the debate than the average listener may have.

But maybe this is the point. An ideology that advocates the chemical and physical mutilation of children's authentic bodies has almost fully captured public and private institutions, and few people seem that aware.

One of the issues with the 'trans debate' is, as Linehan states, the lack of clear definitions of its key concepts. Add to this that it largely happens online, among what might be termed Internet Dwellers, and the poisoned cauldron of social media, and it's not surprising that it's a debate that excludes most people.

This is a melancholy and occasionally slightly bitter listen, but it is important - and it's well read by the author himself, who sounds improbably upbeat given the circumstances... although sometimes you hear the emotion just under the surface.

Keep going Mr Linehan, you are not alone.

A sad but illuminating listen

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