Only Connect presenter Victoria Coren Mitchell has issued a firm statement in response to Graham Linehan after the comedy writer took exception to a recent episode of the BBC quiz show.
The biological women’s rights advocate, who was famously cancelled by the mainstream media for his stance on the gender debate, took to X shortly after Monday’s instalment to ask Ms Coren Mitchell for her thoughts on trans issues.
Mr Linehan’s critique of the episode came as he questioned whether one of the contestants on the show should be allowed in women-only spaces.
The IT Crowd writer also raised a similar question about a contestant on fellow quiz show Mastermind, before he turned his attention to Ms Coren Mitchell specifically.
Victoria Coren Mitchell on Monday’s Only Connect
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BBC
He asked: “Hey, @VictoriaCoren should ‘Emily’ be allowed in women’s sports and spaces? What about female-only shelters and rape crisis centres? A yes or no will suffice!”
Ms Coren Mitchell responded with a lengthy post: “In my experience, Graham, nothing will suffice to stop you pestering me.
“You seem to really want a rise out of me, and I’m not someone who’s comfortable with anger.”
She continued: “Only Connect is just a harmless quiz show. I try to ignore your relentless messages like I would with any other troll.
Graham Linehan called out Victoria Coren Mitchell on social media
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PA
“But on this occasion, out of respect for the friendly relationship we used to have and the brilliant writer you used to be, I will ask you one more time to please, please, please, leave us alone. If you are still in there somewhere: stop it. You MUST be better than this.”
But Mr Linehan didn’t relent, replying: “So can I take this to mean you *don’t* support the Darlington nurses and Sandie Peggie?
“And when you mention the comedy writer I used to be, you do know I lost my career for standing against men in women’s spaces? Why are you trying to normalise it?”
The interaction sparked a mixed reaction from fellow X users, including one who said to Ms Coren Mitchell: “I think you may be missing the point here.”
In her only other engagement in the row, Ms Coren Mitchell replied to the critic: “I am pretty confident I’m not.”
The latest public spat between the two comes almost three years after they last locked horns about a similar incident on social media.
Back in December 2022, Mr Linehan hit back after facing criticism for complaining about the quiz show’s decision to hire a question writer who uses they/them pronouns.
Responding to the criticism at the time, Mr Linehan penned: “Oh no I’ve lost the Only Connect they/them quizzers! Sorry mate I was taking out my anger that @VictoriaCoren doesn’t stand up to the homophobic s***e that presented a straight couple as ‘queer’ because the husband flaps his hands and the wife has a short haircut.”
Victoria Coren Mitchell has previously engaged in a war of words with Graham
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X
Ms Coren Mitchell promptly responded: “Seriously Graham, stop it. I understand what you think you’re doing in your mind, but I promise it looks *horrible*.
“I’ve told you this privately and I’ll tell you it publicly: they are just people on a quiz, bringing nothing but merriment into the world, please leave them alone.” (sic)
Mr Linehan’s criticism of transgender rights has hit headlines in recent months after he was arrested by five officers at Heathrow airport for three tweets he’d shared on social media.
He was later released without charge on police bail, and no further action took place following a police investigation.
Graham Linehan has been a fierce critic of trans activism
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PAThe entire ordeal led to the Metropolitan police declaring it would no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents.
A Met spokesperson said at the time of the decision: “The commissioner has been clear he doesn’t believe officers should be policing toxic culture war debates, with current laws and rules on inciting violence online leaving them in an impossible position.”
The change in policy is believed to help “provide clearer direction for officers, reduce ambiguity and enable them to focus on matters that meet the threshold for criminal investigations.”
Mr Linehan and the Free Speech Union (FSU) have vowed to sue the Metropolitan Police for wrongful arrest and interference with his free speech rights.