Graham Linehan Performs "Cancelled" Stand-up Routine Outside Scottish Parliament
The Father Ted co-creator had two Edinburgh Fringe venues cancel his show, over his outspoken views on Trans rights.
Last updated 18th Aug 2023
Father Ted writer Graham Linehan has performed a comedy routine outside the Scottish Parliament after two venues in Edinburgh refused to host him.
It follows the cancellation of two separate venues in quick succession - Leith Arches and a second, unnamed venue. It's understood the decision to cancel both events are due to the comedian's outspoken and controversial views on Trans rights.
Addressing crowds from a podium outside Holyrood, Linehan was said to be welling up with tears as he wrapped up his routine, reportedly telling his audience: "Comedy is my first love, it's the thing I love to do, but I have not been allowed to do that for five years."
Leith Arches took the decision to cancel their booking of Linehan earlier this week, saying his views did not "align" with their overall values.
Linehan, who also wrote TV sitcoms The IT Crowd and Black Books, is a vocal critic of the trans rights movement.
Leith Arches said: "We work very closely with the LGBT+ community, it is a considerable part of our revenue, we believe hosting this one-off show would have a negative effect on future bookings."
Comedy Unleashed said it did find a second proper venue to host Linehan's performance but it too decided to pull the show.
The club said on X, the micro-blogging site formerly known as Twitter: "Our replacement venue has cancelled on us too, but we're still going ahead tonight at 7.30!"
Earlier in the week, Linehan told us he feels duty bound to pursue legal action against the original venue's decision "because we want to stop this happening to other people".
"It happened last year with Jerry Sadowitz and in that case too, the comedy community was shamefully quiet about it. It'll just keep happening until we make an example of these venues."