ASK MARK: WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN WRITERS BASE A CHARACTER ON YOU?

AZ: Dear Mark, a “friend” has created an unsympathetic television character that I’m certain is based on me? Do I laugh about it or call my lawyer?

MOT: Dear Adam,

Congratulations on being self-aware enough to know that that petty, bitter, vindictive, largely-humourless character on your friend’s show is based on you - clearly the therapy is paying off.

So, here’s the thing.

Anyone who knows you and knows that the creator knows you, already knows it’s based on you. By calling in the lawyers all you will be doing is a) confirming to the people who don’t already know that it’s based on you that it’s based on you, and b) proving to the world that you are in fact the petty, bitter, vindictive, largely-humourless type of character you’re taking legal action to prove you’re supposedly not.

My advice?

Use your new-found infamy as a conversation starter down at the local pub and maybe do a bit more work on your personality.