Graham Linehan has reignited his bitter feud with Father Ted star Ardal O’Hanlon, launching a blistering attack on the actor over their differing views on transgender issues.
The 58-year-old comedy writer took aim at his former colleague on X while responding to an article about Harry Potter actress Bel Powley distancing herself from author JK Rowling’s gender-critical stance.
Ms Powley, who will play Petunia Dursley in HBO’s forthcoming Harry Potter television adaptation, told The Telegraph: “I strongly disagree with JK Rowling’s views on gender.
“I think that the trans community deserves safety and dignity and respect and total acceptance.”
Graham Linehan launched a fresh attack on his former colleague on social media
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PAHowever, she added that she remains a fan of the franchise, explaining: “But I love Harry Potter. I grew up with the books. I am from that first generation of readers and, again, I love magic and spookiness.”
Sharing an article about Ms Powley’s remarks, Mr Linehan claimed Mr O’Hanlon had previously made similar comments to him.
“This is the same thing Ardal O’Hanlon said to me,” he wrote.
“I was astonished and said, ‘What, you think men should be in women’s prisons? Their sports?’
Mr Linehan and Ardal O’Hanlon worked together on Father Ted during the 1990s
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“‘Oh, ah, well, you know more about it than I do’.
“F*****g cowardly, disloyal p***k.”
The intervention marks the latest chapter in an increasingly bitter public fallout between Mr Linehan and Mr O’Hanlon, who worked together on the hit Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted.
Mr O’Hanlon famously starred as the dim-witted Father Dougal McGuire in the comedy, which Mr Linehan created alongside Arthur Mathews.
Graham Linehan has publicly criticised O’Hanlon before
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PAThe pair’s relationship has deteriorated in recent years amid Mr Linehan’s outspoken campaigning on transgender issues.
Mr O’Hanlon previously said he was “baffled” by the writer’s involvement in online culture wars and expressed sympathy over the impact the controversy had had on his former colleague’s career and personal life.
Mr Linehan subsequently revealed he had confronted the actor by phone, claiming Mr O’Hanlon took issue with “the way” he conducted his campaigning.
The writer later accused his former colleague of being the “latest ex-colleague to smear me in the press” and criticised him for failing to support his stance on women’s single-sex spaces and sport.
Mr Linehan also took aim at the actor in a Telegraph column, writing: “Ardal knew how to put character into an empty line, but he had no character himself.”
His latest remarks sparked a divided reaction on X, with several users urging him to leave his former colleague out of the row.
One critic asked: “Just because you worked with him 30 years ago, why are you so obsessed with dragging Ardal into your crusade?! Why are you so obsessed with what one person thinks?!”
Another wrote sarcastically: “What a charmer you continue to be.”
“Aw no. Don’t bring Ardal into it. Stop,” a third pleaded.
However, Mr Linehan also received support from followers, with one declaring: “You’re on the right side of history.”
Ms Powley is the latest member of the new Harry Potter cast to publicly distance herself from Ms Rowling’s views.
John Lithgow, who will play Albus Dumbledore, has also said he disagrees with some of the author’s positions, revealing he considered walking away from the series before ultimately deciding to remain.