Father Ted creator Graham Lineham has expressed gratitude towards Jimmy Carr following supportive remarks made during a recent US performance.
Taking to social media, Mr Linehan disclosed that his fellow comedian had privately stood by him during his recent professional and personal difficulties.
"I hope it's now safe to say that he alone visited me when I was being cancelled and trying desperately to save my marriage and career," Linehan posted on X.
The writer emphasised that the gesture held particular significance as they "weren't even a close friend".
Graham Linehan was arrested over three tweets | GB NEWSMr Linehan acknowledged he hadn't anticipated public backing from Mr Carr earlier, recognising the comedian faced his own controversies.
He noted those who targeted him had repeatedly attempted to end Mr Carr's career, adding he "certainly didn't want his career on my conscience".
Mr Carr's comments emerged from footage of his Minneapolis performance earlier this month as part of his Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny tour.
The 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown presenter launched into a passionate defence of Mr Linehan after an audience member asked about jokes that might lead to arrest at Heathrow.
Jimmy Carr branded the Father Ted creator's airport arrest 'f***ing madness' | GETTYWhen someone in the crowd mentioned Mr Linehan's name, Mr Carr responded enthusiastically: "Graham Linehan! I f***ing love Graham."
The comedian proceeded to praise both Mr Linehan and JK Rowling for their courage, stating that bravery was "in short supply in our society".
Mr Carr characterised Linehan as "a f***ing brave guy", emphasising the timing of his statements on gender issues had been particularly significant.
Carr told his American audience that Linehan had "lost his family, he lost his career, he lost everything". He continued: "And then he was getting f***ing arrested at the airport. F***ing madness."
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The comedian drew a contrast between the UK and US approaches to free expression, telling the Minneapolis crowd: "You've got the First Amendment. F***ing cherish it."
Mr Carr suggested that whilst expressing views about biological sex might seem straightforward now, "at the time, when he started saying it, it was f***ing incredible that he was saying it".
He described the current climate as one where stating "men are men, women are women" alongside acknowledging "a very tiny percentage of people that want to live different lives" had become controversial.
The IT Crowd writer faced arrest by armed officers at Heathrow on September 1 whilst returning to London.
Met Police recently dropped the probe into Graham Linehan after Heathrow arrest over posts on transgender issues
| PAPolice detained him on suspicion of inciting violence through gender-critical posts on social media.
The incident triggered widespread criticism, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging police to prioritise serious offences.
Jimmy Carr expressed admiration for Graham Lineham
|GETTY
The Metropolitan Police maintained their investigation for several weeks before announcing on October 20 that they had discontinued the probe.
The arrest had occurred against a backdrop of ongoing debates about free expression and gender identity in British public discourse.