Kate Forbes: 'Remarkable' Graham Linehan has had such a hard time staging his Edinburgh Fringe show

The Father Ted writer had his show cancelled twice over his criticism of the trans rights movement

Kate Forbes says she finds it “remarkable” Graham Linehan had such a hard time staging his Edinburgh Fringe show.

The Father Ted writer ended up having his show Comedy Unleashed held outside the Scottish Parliament after it was cancelled by two different venues over his views on transgender rights.

The original venue, Leith Arches, cancelled their booking, saying the Irishman’s views did not “align” with their overall values. Mr Linehan has been a vocal critic of the trans rights movement.

Irish comedy writer Graham Linehan performs outside the Scottish Parliament after Leith Arches cancelled a Comedy Unleashed event at which he was due to appear when complaints were made to the venue. Picture: Katielee Arrowsmith/SWNS

Ms Forbes was appearing on a live recording of Matt Forde’s The Political Party podcast at the Edinburgh Fringe when she said Mr Linehan should be protected as a comedian.

Ms Forbes has previously said she does not agree with self-ID for trans people, a key policy of the SNP-Green Government.

She said: “I think it is remarkable Graham Linehan has had such a difficult time. I find this whole thing fascinating.

“I think that people pick a target and go after that target, and they’re not content until they are destroyed.

Kate Forbes. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA

“But I think it is a really, really scary time to be a comedian because your shows, your art, relies in part on causing offence – and some of it I find quite offensive.

“You cause offence and offence needs to be caused and he is a comedian and he is not inciting violence as far as I can see – he is a comedian making jokes with the currency of offence and that needs to be protected.”

During the interview, Mr Forde asked Ms Forbes why Mr Linehan had received such a backlash and other prominent figures such as former first minister Alex Salmond had not, and if she was surprised at Mr Salmond’s “partial rehabilitation”.

In response, the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP said: “I think right now it speaks to a deeper problem, which is perhaps within the independence movement – a desire to look for natural leaders that will unite the independence movement.

“I think that should be Humza Yousaf and I know Humza is working hard to do that, to unite the movement.”