Graham Linehan has launched a blistering attack on comedian Rosie Jones, accusing her of lacking comedic talent and attempting to dictate what fellow performers can joke about.
The Father Ted creator took to X to criticise Jones, declaring: "Rosie Jones is trying to control what other comedians talk about because she is not funny and does not know how to be funny."
The 57-year-old television writer's remark came after commentator Mark Wallace criticised Ms Jones's approach to comedy restrictions.
"It's incredibly dull to have commissar comedians setting out rules to restrict jokes," Mr Wallace posted.
Graham Linehan criticiced Ms Jones on X | GB NEWSHe took particular issue with Ms Jones's framework for evaluating humour, questioning her test of whether jokes open conversations or prompt different thinking.
"How about just 'is it funny?'" Mr Wallace suggested as an alternative measure for comedic material.
Ms Jones had previously launched a fierce critique of Ricky Gervais and Jimmy Carr in an interview with Attitude magazine, describing them as "privileged cis white straight men" who comment on trans issues without any lived experience.
"It's just your privileged cis white straight men who open their newspaper and go, 'Oh, people are talking about trans people. I can know a bit about that without experiencing it at all,'" she told the publication.
Rosie Jones is trying to control what other comedians talk about because she is not funny and does not know how to be funny. https://t.co/dFRxFtZqCF
— Graham Linehan (@Glinner) January 12, 2026
"To those boys, I'd say, with respect, shut the f*** up."
The comedian outlined a three-part framework she believes performers should follow before delivering material.
First, whether they have direct personal connection to the subject. Second, whether the joke targets those with more or less power.
Third, whether the motivation is to spark genuine discussion or merely court controversy.
Ms Jones was unequivocal that material about trans people should remain exclusively within the community's domain.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Rosie Jones previously hit out at Ricky Gervais
| PA"It's none of their f****** business. Stop telling cheap f****** jokes and leave it to the brilliant trans people who live in that world," she stated.
Her comments followed Jimmy Carr's appearance on his Laughs Funny tour in October, where he praised Mr Linehan's position on trans matters, describing the television writer's stance as "bravery".
The interview was subsequently circulated on X by @JournalismSEEN, with a caption highlighting Ms Jones's criticism of Mr Gervais and Mr Carr as privileged men commenting on experiences they have never lived.
The exchange marks the latest flashpoint in ongoing debates about comedy's boundaries regarding transgender topics.
Ricky Gervais has said in the past he has no regrets about his comedy
| GETTYThe attack on Ms Jones follows Mr Linehan's criticism of Gary Lineker just a day earlier, when he branded the Match of the Day host Britain's biggest coward for allegedly refusing to address male athletes in women's sport and remaining silent on Iran.
"Is there a bigger coward in the UK than @GaryLineker?" Mr Linehan posted. "Refused to speak on men in women's sports and now silent on Iran."
Meanwhile, the 57-year-old writer was convicted of criminal damage at Westminster Magistrates' Court in November 2025 after damaging trans activist Sophia Brooks's mobile phone during a confrontation outside a London conference venue.
Mr Linehan admitted throwing the device after Brooks began filming him, though magistrates cleared him of separate harassment allegations connected to social media posts.