Father Ted creator: Zealots are forcing me out of own show
THE Bafta-winning creator of Father Ted says fear of the trans lobby could force him out of a new stage musical of the hit TV show because of his outspoken views.
Graham Linehan, whose credits also include The IT Crowd, has been attacked by trans activists for his defence of women’s rights and the importance of biological sex.
Now producers at Hat Trick Productions have told him that plans for a stage musical of Father Ted could collapse unless he removes his name from the credits over fears that the show could become a target for trans campaigners.
‘The production company are terrified that as soon as it opens, trans activists will try and shut it down,’ scriptwriter Mr Linehan told The Mail on Sunday. ‘Hat Trick have simply told me it will be impossible for them to be able to finance the show unless I am no longer associated with it. I’m considering leaving for the good of the show.
‘I am not concerned by trans activists but my producers are.’
He is not the only writer to risk being written out of their own creations after falling foul of the transgender lobby.
Last week, Harry Potter author J.K.Rowling was ‘erased’ from the trailer for Fantastic Beasts, a film based on one of her books.
Mr Linehan believes biological sex is more important than the controversial idea that an individual can choose a ‘self-identified’ gender, which has seen biological men demand the right to use women’s toilets and changing rooms.
Hat Trick had asked Mr Linehan to remain silent on the subject, but he had found it difficult.
‘The warnings from the production company became more insistent,’ said Mr Linehan, pictured. ‘After a while, I had a very funny meeting with a top public relations guy at the company. I’d hoped it might help improve my image.
‘Instead he said, “Graham, I have to tell you, there are some people in the office who won’t work for you”.’