Father Ted writer Graham Linehan Fringe show cancelled over gender views

A drama amusement featuring Father Ted writer Graham Linehan successful Edinburgh has been cancelled owed to complaints.

Leith Arches said it had pulled the gig aft claiming it "does not align with our wide values".

The writer has been been an outspoken professional of transgender self-identification.

Mr Linehan urged the venue to reconsider its determination and suggested the cancellation mightiness beryllium unlawful.

Leith Arches said it had been unaware Mr Linehan would beryllium taking portion successful the amusement which was organised by a 3rd party.

In a societal media station it thanked members of the nationalist for their complaints astir his scheduled quality this Thursday.

It wrote: "We bash not enactment this comedian oregon his views and helium volition not beryllium allowed to execute astatine our venue and is cancelled from Thursday's drama amusement with contiguous effect."

Mr Linehan responded connected X, formerly Twitter, by challenging the venue to explicate which of his views it recovered offensive.

He posted: "It definite sounds similar favoritism connected the grounds of my legally protected beliefs."

Earlier this twelvemonth different Edinburgh drama venue, The Stand, cancelled a scheduled Fringe festival quality by SNP MP Joanna Cherry aft unit said they were not comfy with her views connected transgender issues.

But the drama nine later reinstated it and apologised, admitting the cancellation was "unfair and constituted unlawful favoritism against Ms Cherry".

The In Conversation With... Joanna Cherry lawsuit took spot past week.

Ms Cherry, who is besides a apical lawyer, aboriginal posted that the Linehan lawsuit "looks similar a beauteous wide lawsuit of content discrimination" and deed retired astatine "more petulant cancellation".

Mr Linehan co-created the Channel 4 drama Father Ted and aboriginal wrote Black Books and The IT Crowd.

In 2008 an occurrence of The IT assemblage was criticised implicit its transgender crippled line.

Mr Linehan was aboriginal progressive successful a fig of acrimonious societal media disputes with trans activists, and successful 2020 was permanently suspended from Twitter which claimed helium had breached rules connected "hateful content".

In an affectional BBC interrogation past year, the Dublin-born writer told Nolan Live helium had been unfairly targeted implicit his views, losing him enactment and contributing to the break-up of his marriage.