But Pavilion Theatre avoids major damage

Jonathan Pie's Glasgow Comedy Festival show has been cancelled tonight, because of a fire raging in the city centre.

The spoof news reporter – the creation of Tom Walker – tweeted that he was 'gutted' over the cancellation.

The fire, which has been blazing in Sauchiehall Street since just after 8am, is now under control and did not spread to the theatre – although there are concerns of smoke damage to the building .

Firefighters have been spraying the theatre to keep the fire from spreading. The venue tweeted the advice: 'Do not panic that the theatre is on fire if you see pictures on social media of this happening.'

🎥WATCH: The Pavilion's manager, Iain Gordon, tells #HeartNews flames didn't spread to the theatre, but there are concerns of smoke damage to the building - firefighters have been spraying it to keep the fire from spreading to it: pic.twitter.com/grdiPj6zlO

— Heart Scotland News (@HeartScotNews) March 22, 2018

The fire broke out at Victoria's Nightclub, which is separated from the historic theatre – which originally opened as the Pavilion Theatre of Varieties in 1904 – by a narrow alleyway.

Staff at the Pavilion have not yet been told when they can get access to the theatre. And there is no news yet whether Ed Bryne's show, due to take place there tomorrow, will still go ahead.

Pie tweeted: 'We are hoping to reschedule for later in the year. Please hold onto your tickets and I'll be in touch with more details in the next couple of days.'

• Stewart Lee has apologised to fans after his show in Hull was more than an hour late starting last night because of a technical problem with the lighting rig. Many ticket-holders took refuge in nearby pubs after being denied entry to the City Hall while the issue was sorted out. Lee thanked fans for their patience saying 'it was a great, if long, night in the end.

Published: 22 Mar 2018