
Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan charged with criminal damage and harassment
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
FATHER Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has been charged with criminal damage and harassment.
The five-time Bafta award winner, also known for writing The IT Crowd, Black Books and Motherland will appear in court on May 12.
Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter
Sign up
It's believed the charges are related to an incident at the Battle of Ideas festival on October 19 last year.
Mr Linehan has had a longstanding history of criticising the trans-rights movement.
He told the Mirror: "This is part of a long history of the police acting as a goon squad for trans rights activists."
The award-winning writer also shared a post about the alleged victim adding: "I look forward to exposing him and them in court."
A CPS spokesperson said: "Graham Linehan is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court for a first hearing to face charges of harassment without violence and criminal damage on 12 May."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Edinburgh Live
19 minutes ago
- Edinburgh Live
Kate Middleton's royal title 'almost went to someone else' before 'intervention'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Within the ranks of the royal family, it's common for senior royals to be known by their secondary titles such as Duke, Duchess, Earl, and Countess, to name a few. Each title is distinctive, often passed down through generations, yet occasionally, more than one Royal could be in line for the same title. Back in 1999, a unique situation arose that nearly saw the now-Princess of Wales miss out on her former title as the Duchess of Cambridge. When Sophie Rhys-Jones married Prince Edward in 1999, it was anticipated that Edward would receive the prestigious title of Duke of Cambridge, making Sophie the Duchess of Cambridge. However, according to an insider speaking to The Telegraph in 2010, Prince Edward found inspiration from the silver screen to choose a different path, eschewing the dukedom earmarked for him, unlike his elder sibling Prince Andrew. READ MORE - Inside 'ghost town' shopping centre near Edinburgh that's been left to rot READ MORE - The giant lost Edinburgh building that once took up half of the Meadows The palace source divulged: "Prince Edward was going to be the Duke of Cambridge, but he watched the film Shakespeare in Love, which had a character called the Earl of Wessex. He liked the sound of it and asked the Queen if he could have that instead." Therefore, Sophie was styled as the Countess of Wessex, leaving the Cambridge titles to be bestowed upon Prince William and Kate Middleton upon their marriage in 2011, reports the Mirror. (Image: Jason Dawson/JASONPIX) (Image: POOL/AFP via Getty Images) In 2024, Prince Edward and Sophie underwent another title change, becoming the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in honour of Edward's late father, Prince Philip. This change was part of the celebrations for Edward's 59th birthday in March. The Duke of Edinburgh title has a long history, having been first created for Prince Frederick, the eldest son of King George II, back in 1726. In 1764, it was bestowed upon Prince William, brother of King George III, as part of the joint title The Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh. Prince Alfred, Queen Victoria's second son, assumed the title in 1866, before it was passed on to Prince Philip upon his marriage to the late Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Edward is now the fifth holder of the Duke of Edinburgh title, which he will retain for the rest of his life. However, the title is no longer hereditary, meaning there's no guarantee that it will be passed on to Edward and Sophie's son James when Edward passes away. This could potentially see the title being handed down to one of the children of the Prince and Princess of Wales in the future, with Prince Louis being the most likely candidate to inherit it. The practice of bestowing specific titles upon royals is rooted in a long history of lineage and land ownership, with each title signifying everything from a royal's duties and responsibilities to the correct way to address them.


Daily Record
34 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Mum's 'miracle' as son missing for six weeks returns home after 'police mistake'
"He was a vulnerable young adult. I don't understand why they just let him go in that condition. They should have shown more of a duty of care." A mum has told of a "miracle" as her teenage son returned home after going missing for six weeks following a "huge police mistake". Deante James, 17, vanished from his home in Enfield, North London, in March after smoking what he thought was cannabis. He was then found on May 17. The teen was unaware it contained the synthetic cannabinoid Spice, which can cause psychosis. Deante, a normally ambitious boy who loved going to the gym, began hallucinating and hearing voices. His worried family took him to hospital, where doctors had said he had signs of drug-induced psychosis. He received treatment and was on the mend, but back at home he had another episode and on March 31 bolted out of the back door without his mobile phone or any money. Six weeks passed before he was found. Just as his mum, Vandana Bhogowoth, was losing hope, the police called to say he was safe and in hospital. Speaking to the Mirror, she said: 'I don't think I'll ever forget that day. It was probably one of the best days of my life. Oh my God, the emotions – I just burst out crying. I've never felt happiness like it. It was pure happiness – and relief.' The single mum thanked the Mirror and Sunday Mirror for running its Missed campaign, which she credits with helping to find him. Vandana, 36 – who prayed to God for help two days before hearing Deante was found on May 17 – said: 'The publicity made the police take the case more seriously. I'm really thankful to everyone, also my local MP and the Missing People charity, who pushed the police to take it seriously and get him found. I think highlighting it did push them. Everyone collectively helped – thank you. I'm so grateful.' Deante was admitted to hospital had told staff he was 18, and his parents were not traced. Vandana first told her story to the Mirror on May 11, at which point she did not know whether Deante was dead or alive. She had been told her son had been arrested by British Transport Police three days after he went missing for not being able to pay his tube fare - only for them to let him go. The college teacher now knows this was because Deante had given his name the wrong way round, and it did not flag him up as missing. She has also learned police made every effort to obtain historic mobile phone data to identify any associates who might have known where he was and trawled CCTV footage to try to locate him. But despite Deante giving the BTP officers his correct date of birth and address, police did not contact her. While Vandana searched, his older sister Jaidaima, 19, created a TikTok video of her and her brother to try to help find him. It was viewed more than 73,000 times. While grateful to the police for finding her son and letting her know he was safe, Vandana still feels a lack of joined-up communication between the essential services meant he fell through the cracks. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. She says: 'If I'm honest I am still angry. He was a vulnerable young adult. I don't understand why they just let him go in that condition. They should have shown more of a duty of care. He was a teenager with no money and no phone. Why didn't they phone his parents? "It makes me really upset because I think the [police and hospital ] could have saved me and my family this ordeal and the devastation of not knowing where he was. I tried to stay as positive as I could, but at the back of my mind I did have dark thoughts, like, 'What if he's been kidnapped? What if he's dead?'' Vandana says Deante is 'absolutely fine' now. The relieved mum adds: 'He's recovering and he's going to get back to his absolute best self, so I'm really happy, positive and extremely grateful to everyone. He's looking forward to getting his life back on track and following his dreams. As a family we can't wait to celebrate his 18th birthday now. We're going to spoil him.'


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Loch Nessa: Gavin & Stacey icon Ruth Jones' secret life in one of Britain's most remote corners
With her cutting wit and melodious accent Ruth Jones has long been a national treasure in her home nation - to the extent that she is affectionately nick-named 'the first lady of Wales'. And the actress, 58 best known for her BAFTA-winning role as Nessa in Gavin and Stacey, has basked in that acclaim, previously saying: 'I'm a hugely proud Welsh person. I just love it, it's something very special being Welsh.'