Sold-out 'unwoke' comedy show by Graham Linehan and GB News' Andrew Doyle CANCELLED by venue over trans views
A sold-out 'unwoke' comedy show has been abandoned by a venue over the comic's view on gender issues
GB News
A sold-out "unwoke" comedy show has been abandoned by a venue over the comic's view on gender issues.
Father Ted creator's Graham Linehan was due to take to the stage at at the Leith Arches venue in Edinburgh along with three other comedians as part of a show put together by GB News' Andrew Doyle.
But the London-based Comedy Unleashed has been axed after complaints were made to chiefs.
Doyle condemned backlash from activists after the venue said they would not allow the scriptwriter's views to "violate" their space.
The venue has not explicitly explained the reason behind the cancellation but Linehan has been a vocal critic of transgender ideology and its impact on the lives of women and girls.
Doyle said he was "astonished" by the decision, adding that the comedy industry is in a "dire state".
Posting on X, he said: "Our Comedy Unleashed gig at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe has been CANCELLED by our venue following online pressure.
"It is astonishing that a comedy night at the largest arts festival in the world should be prevented from going ahead, simply because activists are offended.
"The comedy industry is in a dire state. It’s about time that promoters, venues, comedy critics and comedians made a concerted effort to support free expression in the arts."
Leith Arches, which was due to host Linehan this Thursday, claims it had only just become aware of his appearance.
In a social media post, the venue said: "We would like to thank the public for bringing to our attention, about a comedian who has been booked for an upcoming comedy show at our venue this Thursday, which we were not made aware of until today, via emails from rightly-so outraged members of our community.
"We do not support this comedian, or his views, and he will not be allowed to perform at our venue and is cancelled from this Thursday's comedy show with immediate effect.
Andrew Doyle condemned backlash from activists after the venue said they would not allow the scriptwriter's views to 'violate' their space
GB News
"An outside organiser was responsible for the line up and we were unaware as to who was performing until now.
"We are an inclusive venue and will not allow such views to violate our space."
Doyle set up Comedy Unleashed as a platform for comedians who had been cancelled for sharing their unwoke views.
The show has been forced to find an alternative venue for Linehan and his fellow comic Alistair Williams, Mary Bourke and Dominic Frisby.