Father Ted creator Graham Linehan slammed the Irish state broadcaster for boycotting Eurovision, calling their use of the sitcom ‘antisemitic harassment’ in an online statement
Father Ted creator Graham Linehan has launched a blistering attack on Irish TV bosses, accusing them of using his legendary sitcom as a “tool of antisemitic harassment.” The writer says he objects “in the strongest possible terms” after broadcaster RTE decided to air his show’s classic Eurovision-themed episode instead of the actual contest.
The channel is snubbing the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in protest against Israel’s participation. Instead of the glitzy final, fans will see priests Ted and Dougal performing the iconic My Lovely Horse in the episode A Song For Europe.
Linehan, who co-created the hit series, has now demanded the resignation of RTE’s Director General, Kevin Bakhurst. In a fiery post on X (formerly Twitter), he said: “Please join me in demanding the resignation of RTE’s Director General for using Father Ted as a tool of antisemitic harassment.”
The writer, who launched a petition that has already racked up over 1,000 signatures, claimed the broadcaster’s move is a “disgrace.”
He wrote: “RTE has chosen to boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest solely because Israel is participating. This is not a principled humanitarian stand. It is antisemitism – the oldest hatred – dressed up in the language of human rights.”
He added: “I did not give my permission for Father Ted to be used as a prop in an antisemitic political gesture. I object to it in the strongest possible terms.”
Ireland is among several nations, including Spain and Slovenia, refusing to send an act to this year’s competition.
The boycott follows intense pressure on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to ban Israel, similar to the 2022 exclusion of Russia.
Critics of the participation point to the devastating conflict in Gaza. According to the country’s ministry of health, the death toll since October 2023 has surpassed 72,740, with more than 854 Palestinians killed since the most recent ceasefire.
However, Linehan argues that singling out the world’s only Jewish state is a double standard. He said: “RTE has not boycotted Russia, Belarus, or Azerbaijan. It has boycotted Israel. The message is clear.”
While the Netherlands and Iceland are also withdrawing their acts, they still plan to broadcast the final. RTE, however, is sticking to its guns with alternative programming scheduled across the week.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster pointed to a previous statement, saying: “RTE feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.”
They added that the station remains “deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza.”
Ireland currently holds a joint record with Sweden for the most Eurovision wins, having taken the trophy seven times. Their last victory came in 1996 with Eimear Quinn’s The Voice.
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