It was important to make a stand, says Graham Linehan

Graham Linehan appeared on a small stage outside the Scottish Parliament

Graham Linehan said it was "extremely important" for him to "make a stand" and perform at the Edinburgh Fringe after his show was cancelled twice.

The Father Ted writer gave an impromptu performance outside the Scottish Parliament on Thursday after two venues refused to host the performance.

The original venue, Leith Arches, had pulled out amid concern about Mr Linehan's views on transgender issues.

The show's organiser said they "refuse to be cancelled".

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Speaking to BBC Scotland News after the show, Mr Linehan said: "It is important to make a stand. It is important to at least stand in front of a microphone, even if it's just for a second, and show that these people don't get to push the rest of us around."

He added that he knew it was going to be a "weird" show so told himself "do what you can and try and get out with your dignity intact".

Mr Linehan, who also wrote TV sitcoms The IT Crowd and Black Books, has been involved in a number of acrimonious social media disputes with trans activists, with opponents accusing him of transphobia.

He was suspended from Twitter in 2020 after it ruled he had breached its rules on "hateful content", although his account was reinstated last year.

The comedian said: "I heard someone say today I disagree with Graham Linehan on many things, it's like what? What do you disagree with me on?"

He said it was "extraordinary" to find that his beliefs were being cast as bigotry.

Mr Linehan said it was important for his performance to go ahead

Leith Arches said earlier this week that it had cancelled the show because it did not support the comedian or his views.

That stance was backed by NUS Scotland president Ellie Gomersall, who has campaigned for changes to gender laws.

She said the way Mr Linehan expressed his views was "pretty deplorable" and that it was right for the comedy club to reject him.

Mr Linehan performed on Thursday as part of a five-piece comedy group organised by Comedy Unleashed.

Co-founder Andy Shaw told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme it was probably the "hardest gig" he had ever had to organise.

He said: "Graham's views on other matters are Graham's views on other matters and really it's a big, big pity that all the attention has been on Graham's views around the trans issue and not around the principle of free expression in the art and free speech which is actually what has happened here."

'We won't be cancelled'

He added: "We've had a gig cancelled and very few people have come forward to say this is wrong - in Edinburgh, the home of the enlightenment and during the biggest comedy festival in the world.

"The principle here is we're not going to stop, we won't be cancelled, we will make sure this gig goes on and the artists can focus on their comedy."

He said holding the show outside the Scottish Parliament was "utterly surreal" but was not to make a political statement. Other last-minute options included a church, a community hall and the City of Edinburgh council's debating chamber.

"Does fate lead you in a certain direction? I'm not a big believer in fate but it took us to almost making a political point," he added.

The question of whether Mr Linehan or Comedy Unleashed will take legal action against the original venue remains, but Mr Shaw added that "an apology would be nice."