X-Men star Patrick Stewart has weighed into the “gay cake” row, taking the side of the Christian baker found guilty of discrimination. 

Ashers Bakery recently lost a court case after refusing to make a cake carrying a message to support gay marriage. The McArthur family who own the bakery were found guilty of unlawful discrimination and fined £500.

Now Stewart has come out as backing the bakery after making comments on Newsnight. He said: “Finally, I found myself on the side of the bakers.”

“It was not because it was a gay couple that they objected, it was not because they were celebrating some sort of marriage or an agreement between them,” said Stewart. “It was the actual words on the cake they objected to. Because they found the words offensive.”

He continued: “I would support their rights to say no, this is personally offensive to my beliefs, I will not do it.”