David Tennant and Michael Sheen enjoy Pub In The Park after trans row

David Tennant reunited with his pal Michael Sheen at Pub In The Park: All Star Charity Gala on Friday, after the actor was slammed by JK Rowling over his pro-trans rights speech.

The former Doctor Who star, 53, wore a casual grey suit with large black sunglasses and black Adidas trainers as he joined his Good Omens co-star at the event.

Michael, 55, wore a comfortable grey T-shirt with an open khaki shirt and chinos and trainers, as the pair joined stars including Myleene Klass and Clare Balding at the event.

On Friday, Rowling, 58, first name Joanne, took to X, formerly Twitter, to call people like David ‘the gender Taliban ‘.

She wrote of David: ‘This man is talking about rape survivors who want female-only care, the nurses currently suing their health trust for making them change in front of a man, girls and women losing sporting opportunities to males and female prisoners incarcerated with convicted sex offenders.

She said in a separate tweet: ‘For a man who’s supposedly a model of compassion and tolerance, he sure does want a lot of people to cease to exist.’

Joanne was speaking in response to a comment David made at the British LGBT Awards which took place on June 21.

Speaking about those that have offensive views on trans and non-binary people, David said: ‘Oh, it’s a tiny bunch of little whingeing f**kers who are on the wrong side of history and they’ll all go away soon.’

He also said, while accepting his award for Celebrity Ally, that we won’t live in a world where someone can just be themselves, as long as they’re not hurting anyone, ‘until we wake up and Kemi Badenoch doesn’t exist anymore.’ 

David added: ‘I don’t wish ill of her, I just wish her to shut up.’

Kemi replied on Twitter: ‘I will not shut up. I will not be silenced by men who prioritise applause from Stonewall over the safety of women and girls. 

‘A rich, lefty, white male celebrity so blinded by ideology he can’t see the optics of attacking the only black woman in government by calling publicly for my existence to end…..(1/2) 

‘Tennant is one of Labour’s celebrity supporters. This is an early example of what life will be like if they win. Keir Starmer stood by while Rosie Duffield was hounded. He and his supporters will do the same with the country. Do not let the bigots and bullies win. (2/2)’

Kemi’s tweet was reshared by Rowling. 

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Then, a Twitter user questioned David telling the only Black woman in government, and the ‘daughter of immigrants’, to ‘shut up’ and not exist.

Joanne replied: ‘But the utterances of the Gender Taliban receive special dispensation, for they are a holy caste.’ 

The billionaire author’s views on trans issues has led to many a celebrity fall out, including with Daniel Radcliffe, the star of the Harry Potter films. 

Back at Pub In The Park, also in attendance were television presenters Ben Shephard and Andrea McClean.

Clare Balding looked fantastic in a blue-green jacket, black trousers and boots, and a black shirt.

Mick McCarthy in a blue polo and Nicki Chapman in a deep purple short-sleeved velour jacket smiled sweetly together on a bench. 

Beth Goddard looked lovely in blue converse and cropped white trousers and she tied a light blue jumper around her neck. 

David posed with Arabella Weir, Sir Lenny Henry, and Gaby Roslin and they all smiled brightly.

Gaby, 59, soaked up the sunshine in a solo shot, her jumper featuring a yellow rebus design of ‘love’ and a heart. 

She rolled up the sleeves of her jumper and finished her look with baggy extra long white trousers and white trainers.

Performing at the event was Richard Jones: the bass guitar player of The Feeling and husband of Sophie Ellis-Bextor.