Stephen Fry has said that he doesn’t want to condemn Jk Rowling for her views on transgender people, despite them making his friends being “deeply upset”.

Since criticising an article for using the term “people who menstruate” in 2020, Ms Rowling has repeatedly been accused of transphobia. She has denied the accusations.

However, many stars of the Harry Potter films, including Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, have spoken out in support of the trans community in the wake of her remarks.

Appearing on Roger Bolton’s Beeb Watch podcast on Friday, former Qi host Mr Fry was asked if he’d considered joining the “debate” about Rowling’s comments and the Harry Potter cast’s responses.

“I’m aware you’re talking about an issue where two sides are very sore and very anxious about their enemies,” he said. “I can’t bear it.”

Admitting that his response was “cowardly...