Making
#MySexualAbuseTheSitcom
has changed my life. Transforming something so awful into something positive. So I’m raising money to share other people’s inspiring stories of creating good from bad. Any donations (or shares of the link) will help!
No matter how many times I see them, the “portraits” of her now-deceased cats my mother-in-law commissioned from an “artist” in Germany are never anything short of breathtaking.
The man who sexually abused me (who was convicted on 11 separate charges) spent less than 6 months in prison.
Something is very, very wrong with sentencing in this country.
@NadineDorries
Why don’t you find a little dignity and stop continually throwing yourself under a bus for a man who wouldn’t care if he never laid eyes on you again. Then perhaps you could do some work for us, your constituents. Or recuse yourself from your £84k salary?
My mum died 25 years ago today, 5 years after dad. I didn’t think I’d survive a day without them, let alone a quarter of a century. Bloody hell, I miss them. What I wouldn’t give for one last chat, one last laugh, one last hug. 💔
Random memory - when I was teaching (and before schools employed invigilators) us teachers would often get through exams by playing a very slow game of ‘it’ around the exam hall.
I don’t know about you, but I am COMPLETELY FUCKING DONE with petulant, entitled public schoolboys in suits telling us what we believe, lying to us, gaslighting us, whilst fucking this once brilliant nation from EVERY FUCKING ANGLE.
#GeneralElectionlNow
6 weeks ago today I went to the Netherlands for a therapy-based psilocybin trip (that's magic mushrooms, if you didn't know). It was, and still is, completely life-changing. Here are some things I've discovered*...
(*I'm not an expert - this is just based on my experience)
I don’t believe anyone other than
@Channel4
would have let us make our own show, with our own production company, in our own slightly bonkers way. They gave us the time, space and support to create
#LeeandDean
, a show we love, and helped us forge careers in tv.
#SaveChannel4
This has been a very odd, tricky year (for all) but this week I got cast in my first role in a drama, and today I sent in the first draft of my first commissioned drama script. Who knows what happens next for any of it/us, but I’m so lucky to get to do something I love.
Brexit is a bloke who’s walked out on his wife, has just realised he needs to find somewhere to live, is shocked his ex doesn’t want him to still have keys to the house, and continually asks “We can still fuck, though, right?”
I don't often offer advice on writing/creating stuff for TV, as my imposter syndrome regularly claims Squatters Rights in my brain. But nice people have been asking me (fools!) so fuck it. Here's a little list I might add to occasionally...
#WritingforTV
When we were casting both series of Lee and Dean, we insisted actors who auditioned but didn't get parts were contacted and told. It's not as easy as not bothering, but it's, you know, courteous and nice. Such a little thing - why doesn't it happen for every job?
A few weeks ago I fell for a phishing scam. A message looking like it was from my phone provider saying my payment details needed updating. Looked totally legit. I was tired, trying to get stuff done, and I fell for it. Gave them all my banking and card details...
With every hour that goes by, I get more emotional about what happened over the past 24 hours. The Tories lined the pockets of their mates and started culture wars - Labour don’t waste a single moment to work towards positive change.
#LabourGovernment2024
James Timpson OBE
@JamesTCobbler
has been appointed Minister of State (Minister for Prisons, Parole and Probation) in the Ministry of Justice
@MoJGovUK
.
During these dark days, we all need a little light and hope. Here’s the festive note my son, then 6, posted under his sister’s door 5 years ago today.
#MerryChristmas
Not asking for sympathy, by the way - just want to share how incredibly devious they are. From now on, I’m trusting nothing, and will only talk to my bank through my secure app or in a branch. I’m embarrassed and gutted. Be careful, kids. Don’t be like Mark. 😢
I can’t lie, today has been awful. Far beyond the tier 4 stuff. I’ve had a little cry, and feel a bit better for it. But if anyone’s got any good vibes going spare, please sling them over. I’ll return the favour as soon as I can.
@RobertLindsay
Robert, with respect, people are saying they’ve been treated badly, and no amount of ‘they’re strict disciplinarians’ should excuse bad or abusive behaviour.
One year of no booze today! Didn’t have a plan - still don’t - just got bored of drinking. And now, my slightly addictive personality is a bit hooked on sleeping really well, having less anxiety, eating a lot of cake, and feeling really, really smug.
#soberlife
#smug
I’m 6 weeks and 1 day into my self-imposed ‘What would it be like to not have any booze for 100 days?’ challenge. So far: clearer skin, clearer head, better sleep, really fucking angry all the time.
This is me, coming down from a therapeutic dose of psilocybin, taken in a controlled setting with therapists. Since being diagnosed with PTSD in 2021 I’ve been searching for ways to heal - this is a game changer. We need a serious discussion in the UK about legalising it…
First time ever out campaigning for a party. We cannot let the Tories back in here. And that’s what people are sayingg on the doorsteps. Very pleased to be supporting
@alistrathern
🌹
#MidBeds
I’ve been given permission to (anonymously) share some of the messages I’ve received from people about
#MySexualAbuseTheSitcom
The reviews for the doc/sitcom have been incredible, but it’s these messages that mean the most, and are a huge part of why I wanted to make it. And why
She’s dead. I’m sad for her family. I quite liked her. Now, can we please get back to sorting out the millions living in poverty, terrified they can’t heat and eat, and the Tories happily shielding their energy company donors from any responsibility? Thanks.
On this day in 2014, our then 6yo son pushed this festive note under his sister’s door. And so, today, on the 23rd of December, we hope you’ll join us in an O’Sullivan family Xmas tradition as we wish each other - and you - a very Merry Scum Day.
#merryscumday
@Paul_Wingrove
@OwsWills
I hadn’t appreciated the depth of feeling, and history of suppression of the language. So I’m ok with being wrong about this, owning up to it, and with learning something I didn’t know.
When you wake up to a lovely message about how a recently widowed woman has just watched the show her late husband and her loved last year without him, and it made her smile and laugh for the first time in a long time, other stuff doesn't really matter so much, really.
...something with a brilliant group of people that I hope you'll be able to see later this year. For me, it's the ultimate lemonade from the lemons life threw at me. And making something positive out of something so horrible feels GREAT.
I didn't do A Levels. I did a BTEC, which I recently discovered is now worth something in the region of two satsumas and a dog biscuit. Last week I auditioned for the part of a serial rapist. That's right - little old BTEC me - serial rapist (I didn't get it).
I woke up this morning and realised I'm writing the show I dreamed of writing when I was 15 and although it's the hardest thing I've ever done I'm so bloody lucky and, honestly, don't give up on anything cos you're great even when everything else is shit AND it's Eurovision week!
In these dark days, I'm pleased to report that
@Rylan
is even nicer than friends who've met him told me he was. What a pro. Funny, humble, and a clever fella too.
It’s been a terrible year (or more) for so many people in our industry. Film and TV brings in billions and billions to the UK economy. We need to look after people better than this.
Now that
@antanddec
have retweeted this, the chances of my mother in law seeing it have risen significantly. If she asks, I slipped whilst taking the pics/posting them. You’ll back me up, yes?
11 years ago today, the man who sexually abused me when I was a child was found guilty, and (later) sent to prison. It was the end of a week-long court case which, in all honesty, was every bit as harrowing as the events that had brought us there. This year, I'm making...
ANNOUNCEMENT
After much consideration and consultation with healthcare professionals* I've had to make the difficult decision to cancel my upcoming tour dates. This is made only a little easier by the fact that I didn't have a tour, but it's still gutting, as you can appreciate.
Yesterday was a good day.
Not only a new government and a sense of hope…
A charity who run a helpline for adult survivors of Child Sexual Abuse got in touch to say that calls from men surged following the broadcast of
#MySexualAbuseTheSitcom
I couldn’t be happier.
Abuse and trauma affects not only the victim, but the people closest to them. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to Jenny for being the greatest support through everything, and for agreeing to be a part of this. Xxx
This is my husband who I’m so incredibly proud of. I can’t lie, the thought of bringing something so personal to our family out into the public domain in these times has me slightly on edge but what Mark says about bringing things into the light & helping others is key ❤️
I’m not great at being serious, but I’m going to give it a quick try... the love and support
#leeanddean
has received over the last few weeks from so many people has been mind-blowing. We never really believed we’d get to realise our lifelong dream of making a tv show...
Wow. Some breathtaking ignorance on here re: PTSD. You don’t need to have fought in the trenches of WW1 to be sufferer. I was recently diagnosed with PTSD (a result of trauma I suffered as a child) and if anyone wants me to talk them through how bloody awful it is, I will.
Right - twenty years after trying once and failing, I’m going to have another crack at stand-up. It might be a disaster, but I’m going to give it a shot. And publicly declaring it means I’ll probably go through with it, cos I’m massively pigheaded about these things.
The first ever ep of Lee and Dean was broadcast 2 years ago tonight. Still so proud of it and grateful that we got to make it.
@Channel4
@All4
#leeanddean
…
As someone who lives with the indelible trauma of being sexually abused as a child, I am appalled that my MP
@BimAfolami
is backing
@BorisJohnson
for PM - the man who recently described money spent on child abuse inquiries as being “spaffed up a wall”. I am furious.
So, I’m having my first few experiences of being recognised on the street. Today, a man was waving and shouting ‘Dean! DEAN! Over here Dean!’ really enthusiastically... I waved back - as did his friend Dean, who was standing next to me.
#LeeandDean
#fail
It’s beautiful outside. We’re lucky to live so close to a nature reserve - we’ve got horses, pheasants, buzzards, herons just outside. Now if the foxes could just ease off their nightly screaming sex festival, it’d be fucking idyllic.
On this day in 2014, our then 6yo son pushed this festive note under his sister’s door. And so, on the 23rd of December each year, we wish each other - and you - a very Merry Scum Day.
#merryscumday
My daughter has her last ever day of school next week. It’s going to be “Come as your favourite fictional character from your childhood” day. I’ve never been more proud.
#voteforpedro
#bowtoyoursensei
#napoleon
#WhyIDidntReport
Because I was a child and didn’t understand how wrong what he did to me was.
Because when I did try to tell, I was made to feel like family unity was more important than what he’d done to me.
Because I didn’t realise how much damage it -and he - had done to me.
I had a little ‘moment’ earlier, as my son helped me search in my late dad’s jar of leftover screws and nails - 3 generations of O’Sullivans brought together by an old marmalade jar that’s been in action for over 40 years.
I once crept up on my dad, tapped him on the back as he sneezed. His false teeth shot out and ricocheted off a radiator. Gone 27 years today. Dad, and the teeth. X
Best moment of being recognised so far- at a football tournament with my son, the man selling coffees stares at me menacingly for a solid minute, then beams, calls his wife over, shakes my hand and booms “I love it, she can’t stand it!” She shakes my hand too, the two-faced git.
Thank you to everyone who's messaged me about this. Hope I'm doing the right thing by sharing it. I'm so moved by people contacting me with their own experiences of healing/trauma - it's awful that so many of us have to live with this stuff. Help (in many forms) is out there. x
6 weeks ago today I went to the Netherlands for a therapy-based psilocybin trip (that's magic mushrooms, if you didn't know). It was, and still is, completely life-changing. Here are some things I've discovered*...
(*I'm not an expert - this is just based on my experience)
By all means disagree with me. By all means tell me to pipe down and shut up. Feel free to call me a twat. None of that is going to deter me from calling out wrongdoing when I see it. And it seems more than two thirds of the UK agree.