Father Ted creator Graham Linehan has issued a statement praising Jonathan Ross, days after Ross condemned both David Walliams and Russell Brand over allegations and a conviction.
Linehan's statement on Ross
Linehan said: “Jonathan Ross is one of the few principled men in UK comedy: compassionate, thoughtful and hugely protective of his family, to whom he is devoted.”
The comments come after Ross, 65, released a statement last week saying he was “horrified” by the allegations against Walliams – who is under investigation for “serious sexual offences” – and by Brand's conviction. Ross said he used to be “on friendly terms with both men” but was “genuinely unaware of their conduct”.
Ross addresses 2004 joke
Ross also addressed a joke he made at an awards show in 2004, in which he quipped that Walliams could “go home” with a 15-year-old. He called the joke “tasteless” and said he did not write it himself.
Ross said: “This joke was submitted to me by the Comedy Awards script writing team and I believed that the punchline was a reference to the fact he had publicly dated younger women, exaggerated for comic effect. Had I had any reason to suspect that it might be referring to actual events, I would not only have refused to use it, but I would not have felt comfortable continuing a personal or professional relationship with him.”
Linehan's history with Walliams and Brand
Linehan, who directed the pilot episode of Walliams' Little Britain, previously said: “My most embarrassing mistake was directing the pilot of Little Britain and making Matt [Lucas] and David famous.”
He previously texted Walliams in 2020 to ask him to sign a letter defending JK Rowling over her views on trans people. Linehan shared the exchange, which ended with “Daivd? Are you getting any of these?”, on X in 2024, with the caption: “The last time I ‘spoke’ to Walliams, who literally wouldn’t have his career were it not for me. No reply, of course.”
Linehan has not yet commented on Brand's conviction, but in 2013 he called Brand a “fabulous writer” and said: “Russell Brand. The more he refuses to shut up, the more I like him.”
