Doug Stanhope. Picture: Twitter/@dougstanhope

The Massachusetts-born comic was performing a low-key warm-up date at the Tron in Edinburgh ahead of a wider tour, and became involved in the incident after the show on Friday night last week..

The US comedian told chortle.co.uk: “The word hero is a very strong word, especially the way I’m having it tattooed in 18-inch Gothic script across my back.

“I will be wearing tights and a cape for the rest of the tour.”

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And in an interview with STV Glasgow, Stanhope told how he was having a cigarette outside the Scotsman hotel when he noticed the commotion on the other side of the street

He added: “I went across, and a couple of other guys grabbed [the man] and I tried to make some jokes and lighten things up.

“We held him until the police came.”

He told The Herald: “I saw a woman chasing a man down the street... They were both very drunk and it was a bit like a Fringe show.

“But then the guy started trying to climb up on the bridge and I thought I’d better get over there.