The comedian ripped into Tamworth during his new segment Go Away, “the show that tells you which places to avoid”, during Wednesday night’s episode of ABC’s The Weekly.

“Tonight on the show, I ask, why on earth would you go to Tamworth?” he told viewers, as he rattled off an extensive list of reasons to avoid the country music capital.

Well, Gleeson, you only need to look at the backlash on social media to see just what Tamworth means to the 61,000 people who live here – and the thousands more you’ve since introduced it to after your nationally-aired show.

Tamworth is one of the largest inland cities in NSW – and we don’t use the term “city” loosely. We are the "First City of Lights", the first place in Australia to use electric street lights in 1888.

We are the equine capital of Australia and the country music capital, when the city’s population triples for 10 days every January.

The Tamworth Regional Council area boasts extensive agricultural industries (with 25 per cent of Australia’s produce coming from the New England and North West), a booming tourism market, ever-increasing job numbers and a population growth above the state and national average.

Tamworth also has the best real estate market in regional NSW, and one of the best in regional Australia.

We have enviable medical and sporting facilities.

Since the segment aired, The Leader readers were quick to defend Tamworth, laying into Gunnedah-born Gleeson as the hashtag #GoAway began to trend.

Others brushed it off as satirical humour. 

Either way, it’s shone a light on the great city of Tamworth.

But we’re of the opinion, any publicity is good publicity because Tamworth is standing prouder than ever.

Tamworth mayor Col Murray, business chamber president Jye Segboer and countless other residents are banding together to defend the tourism crown of the North West.

Gleeson’s loyalty to Gunnedah is obvious. He likens Tamworth to Shelbyville, a fictitious town in The Simpsons, which is the twin town of Springfield.

But we’re fairly sure the good folk of Shelbyville aren’t as resilient or thick-skinned, nor prouder than ‘Tamworthians’.

We have much to be proud of, and it’s far more than our country music claim to fame.

So we say, #GoAway Tom Gleeson.