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Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan will consider taking legal action against an Edinburgh venue unless it apologises and U-turns over cancelling a comedy show he was set to appear in.

Leith Arches pulled the plug on the Comedy Unleashed event after it received complaints that Mr Linehan was on the bill.

The Dublin-born writer has been an outspoken critic of transgender self-identification.

In an interview with TalkTV on Wednesday, Mr Linehan told The Julia Hartley-Brewer Breakfast Show: “I actually would suggest that the Leith Arches reverse its course because they’ve said enough online for an easy win in the courts.

“So, if they apologise and put the gig on, I’ll say no more about it. But otherwise, I am going to be looking at legal action.”

In a statement to Sky News, Leith Arches said the show would have a “negative effect on future bookings” and was “not a good fit” for the venue.

A spokesperson said: “We are a very small independent business.

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“We work very closely with the LGBT+ community – it is a considerable part of our revenue. We believe hosting this one-off event would have a negative effect on future bookings.

“The decision is not influenced by online activists, but by our regular community who use our venue on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

“We are not against freedom of speech. The show is not a good fit our venue.”

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, Leith Arches said it was not made aware of the line-up of the show in advance.

The post said: “We would like to thank members of the public and our community for bringing to our attention a comedy act billed to perform at our venue this Thursday.

“We were not made aware of the line-up of this show in advance.

“We have made the decision to cancel this show, as we are an inclusive venue and this does not align with our overall values.”

Advertising for the Comedy Unleashed event had said a “famous ‘cancelled’ comedian” would be among those performing.

It was billed as an Edinburgh Fringe Event, but it does not appear on the official line-up.

Mr Linehan said his appearance at the sold-out gig was announced on Tuesday morning.

He said: “And I was quite surprised they announced it because it’s always a risk to announce me appearing at something – and it was cancelled within a couple of hours maybe.

“I had two hours of enjoying the, you know, excitement from people and fans saying they were going to go.

“You do get used to this type of thing after a while.

“It’s never pretty, never makes you feel good. But the only good thing about it is that it’s drawing more attention to the fact that, you know, essentially a group of highly ideological cultists have taken over institutions across society.”

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

He was banned from X, formerly known as Twitter, in 2020 for breaking its rules around “hateful conduct” with comments about trans people, but his account was reinstated after Elon Musk took over.

Mr Linehan said: “The most important view I have is that it is a crime against humanity to tell children that they may have been born in the wrong body.”

He also believes women deserve “fair sport” and said the likes of Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies and tennis champ Martina Navratilova have been “abused” for their views on trans athletes.

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SNP MP says she’s been ‘cancelled’ over gender views after Edinburgh Fringe event scrapped

Earlier this year, The Stand was forced into a U-turn after cancelling a scheduled Edinburgh Fringe event featuring SNP MP Joanna Cherry.

The comedy club initially said it was unable to host the show after key operational staff said they were “unwilling” to work it due to Ms Cherry’s gender-critical views.

However, it later apologised and said the decision was “unfair and constituted unlawful discrimination” against the politician.

The event took place last week.

Responding to Comedy Unleashed’s announcement that the event had been scrapped, Ms Cherry, who is also a top lawyer, said: “Looks like a pretty clear case of belief discrimination.”

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Terence Stamp, Superman villain and star of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, has died

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Terence Stamp, Superman villain and star of The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, has died

British actor Terence Stamp – who famously played General Zod in Superman and Superman II – has died at the age of 87.

The Oscar-nominated actor, who was born in London’s East End, also starred in hits such as Theorem, A Season in Hell, and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

He formed one of Britain’s most glamorous couples with Julie Christie, with whom he starred in “Far From the Madding Crowd” in 1967.

In a statement, his family said: “He leaves behind an extraordinary body of work, both as an actor and as a writer that will continue to touch and inspire people for years to come.”

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Cara Delevingne reveals how Topshop inspired her fashion sense – as brand relaunches in London

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Cara Delevingne reveals how Topshop inspired her fashion sense - as brand relaunches in London

Fashion brand Topshop celebrated its relaunch with its first catwalk in seven years.

The company’s website promised everyone was invited as models strutted down a runway on Trafalgar Square in front of noughties fashion icons Cara Delevingne and Adwoa Aboah and the London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.

The label has been operating on the online fashion platform ASOS after ceasing to operate as a standalone business in 2020.

Topshop held a catwalk in Trafalgar Square. Pic: PA
Image:
Topshop held a catwalk in Trafalgar Square. Pic: PA

A model on the catwalk
Image:
A model on the catwalk

Its previous owner, Sir Philip Green’s Arcadia group, collapsed into administration and all of Topshop’s physical stores – including the Oxford Circus flagship in London’s West End – closed soon after.

Delevingne told Sky News she was “totally blown away” by the relaunch event.

“It was like nostalgia mixed with something eclectic but also something brand new,” she said.

“For me, it really brings back a time of exploration of my own fashion sense because I think for me at Topshop I got to discover so much.”

The model, who is working on a capsule collection for next year, has already unveiled a choice edit in this year’s show and said her relationship with Topshop precedes her fame.

She said: “I would go in and my friends would be like ‘you would look good in that’ and I would go ‘no, that’s not really me’, and then you’d try it on and be like ‘oh maybe I can explore more’.

“They really have everything for everyone, and I feel like they brought that back.”

The runway showcased highlights from its Autumn-Winter 2025 collection, as well as an early preview of pieces set to drop later this season, including showstopper gowns, the classic white tee, and an aloe vera-coloured faux fur coat that surely should not have been on display – to prevent just about everyone rushing to buy it.

Topshop's relaunch was staged at Trafalgar Square
Image:
Topshop’s relaunch was staged at Trafalgar Square

Models in front of the National Gallery in London's Trafalgar Square. Pic: PA
Image:
Models in front of the National Gallery in London’s Trafalgar Square. Pic: PA

Reclaiming the high street

But sharp tailoring and statement outerwear suggest the brand is ready to reclaim the high street.

Must-have denim pieces completed the womenswear line-up while the Topman collection screamed modern utility by blending refined formal wear with sharp new silhouettes.

Casual pieces are grounded by authentic denim in deep indigos, which stood out on Trafalgar Square’s magnificent stone steps.

Topshop’s relaunch comes as the high street continues to struggle and as the UK operation of Chinese fashion giant Shein announced pre-tax profits of £38.3m for the year, up some £14m from 2023.

‘Top end of the market’

Moses Rashid, global marketing director at Topshop/Topman said they are competing in a different space.

Topshop has been operating on the online fashion platform ASOS after ceasing to operate as a standalone business in 2020
Image:
Topshop has been operating on the online fashion platform ASOS after ceasing to operate as a standalone business in 2020

“We’re at the top end of the market. We’re about elevation. We pride ourselves on the quality of the product,” he said.

Those products are being designed in north London, and managing director Michelle Wilson said the aim is to stay that way.

“We are a British brand, we want to be a positive force for fashion. We want to bring London to the world. It’s fundamental to who we are as a brand, our style is very much London-driven.”

The majority Danish-owned company has suggested it will slow fashion down by opening physical stores where customers can touch the products, browse collections and try things on, though the flagship on Oxford Circus is unlikely to return because a Swedish fast furniture brand has since occupied the space.

Designer Wayne Hemingway has previously collaborated with Topshop and said the relaunch must be more than nostalgia.

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“They can’t rely on their old customers because their old customers have now got kids of their own to spend their money on, and they’ve got mortgages and all of those things of what being an adult means.

“They’ve got to have designers, marketeers, people who understand – who are on the pulse – who understood, number one, what was a success back then, and also a young generation of people who are there saying, ‘this is what our generation needs’, and who are bright and can help deliver that. They can’t rely on the past.”

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Comedian Milton Jones reveals he’s cancer free

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Comedian Milton Jones reveals he's cancer free

Comedian Milton Jones has revealed he is cancer free after being treated for prostate cancer.

In April, the 61-year-old, who is known for his appearances on Mock The Week, announced he was cancelling a number of UK tour dates to undergo surgery.

Jones said in a statement: “A few months ago, I had to stop my tour HA!MILTON because I needed treatment for prostate cancer. I’m glad to say I’ve had that treatment and am now cancer-free!

“So, many thanks to all the doctors and nurses who helped me get better – I couldn’t do their job (I tried, but apparently you have to be qualified).”

Thanking his family, friends and fans, he went on to joke: “I have to admit there were a few dark moments when I wondered if anyone would ever see me again, but then I realised that I was leaning against the light switch.

“Thankfully, I’m now in a completely different place, and if you look at my website, you’ll see that very soon I’ll be in lots of other different places on tour too”.

Jones picks up his tour on 15 September in Stafford, touring until the end of November 2025.

The show, whose name is a play on the title of the hit musical Hamilton, promises laughter and unforgettable comedy moments, as well as jokes about giraffes and tomatoes.

The Richmond-born comedian has been hailed as the king of the one-liner, basing his jokes on clever wordplay and surreal humour.

He has performed on Live At The Apollo, Lee Mack’s All Star Cast, and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.

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