Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has gone on trial in London on charges of harassment and criminal damage against a transgender woman.
Westminster Magistrates' Court was told the 57-year-old allegedly used social media to "relentlessly" publish offensive posts about an 18-year-old trans campaigner.
The Irish comedy writer, who also created The IT Crowd and Black Books, has pleaded not guilty to the two charges.
This trial is not connected to the allegations that led to his much-publicised arrest at Heathrow Airport on Monday.
He said he was met by five armed officers over messages he had previously posted about trans people on X, sparking a backlash from some public figures and politicians, and inflaming a fierce debate about policing and free speech.
