Graham Linehan

Graham Linehan (born 1969) is an Irish television writer and director who, often in partnership with Arthur Mathews, has written or co-written a number of popular television comedies. He is most noted for his involvement in Father Ted.

He attended the Marist Catholic University School (secondary) on lower Leeson street in Dublin and graduated in 1986. Following that, he attended Plunkett's School in Whitehall, followed by Colaiste Dhulaigh in Coolock, before joining Hot Press as a writer. He also had a column with the magazine In Dublin before he moved to London. He is an atheist and an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society. He also enjoys playing poker and has been featured on Celebrity Poker Club.

Writing career

Television

Linehan and Mathews have been responsible for segments in many high profile sketch shows including Alas Smith and Jones, Harry Enfield and Chums, The All New Alexei Sayle Show and the Ted & Ralph characters in The Fast Show (the characters were created by Linehan and Mathews and played by Charlie Higson and Paul Whitehouse).

However, it was with Father Ted (three series, 1995-1998) that Linehan and Mathews made their biggest splash on the public imagination.

They then wrote the first series of the sketch show Big Train, but Linehan bowed out for the second series.

They also wrote the "Dearth of A Salesman" episode for the series "Coogan's Run", which featured the character Gareth Cheeseman. In late 2003, they were named one of the 50 funniest acts to work in television by The Observer.

Linehan has since written for other shows, including Brass Eye. With Dylan Moran, he co-wrote the first series of Black Books, a series to which Mathews also contributed. Linehan has also contributed material to Blue Jam, and its television adaption Jam.

Most recently, Linehan wrote and directed the 2006 Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd, in which he sought to move away from the recent British trend towards mock-documentary comedies, and to return to an old-fashioned style of sitcom, filmed before a studio audience.

Books

Linehan and Mathews have had one book published:

• "Father Ted": The Complete Scripts -- Graham Linehan, Arthur Mathews. (Paperback - Boxtree - October 20, 2000) ISBN 0-7522-7235-7

They have also contributed to various magazines and written surreal liner notes for the popular "Volume" series of alternative music compilations.

Directing career

Linehan has directed the following television shows:

• Twelve episodes of The IT Crowd, 2006-7
• One episode of Little Britain, 2003
• Six episodes of Black Books, 2000
• Six episodes of Big Train, 1998

Lineham made his debut in directing films with the comedy horror short Hello Friend, which he also co-wrote. This film appears an extra on The IT Crowd: Version 1.0 DVD.

He was also an executive producer of the first series of The IT Crowd, and an associate producer of one episode of Father Ted.

Television Appearances

Both Linehan and Mathews have made cameo appearances in programmes they have written.

They also made an appearance in the sitcom I'm Alan Partridge as two Irish men considering Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan) for a contract. In the absence of a picture, Mathews is the fairer haired of the two in the scene mentioned.

Linehan has also appeared in The Day Today and in two episodes of Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, and has had cameos in Black Books (Season One Episode 2, as "I love books" Guy, and 5 as Fast Food Customer), the Flight Into Terror, Entertaining Father Stone, Cigarettes, Alcohol and Rollerblading and Good Luck Father Ted episodes of Father Ted and two episodes of The IT Crowd as Messy Joe's Restaurant Musician in Season One, Episode 3 and the blind sorcerer in Season Two, Episode 6.

External links

• Graham Linehan's CV
• The I.T. Crowd Official Channel 4 minisite.
• Graham Linehan's Wordpress (blog)