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HOLLYWOOD star Patrick Stewart launched a foul-mouthed tirade at a fan who took a picture of him onstage.

He called the man an "a***hole" as he queued to get the actor's autograph following a stage performance.

The 68-year-old X-Men star is touring with acting legend Sir Ian McKellan in Samuel Becket's classic play Waiting For Godot.

As the fan waited outside the King's Theatre in Edinburgh afterwards, Stewart pointed his fingers and shouted: "Can you sleep at night?" His co-star Sir Ian looked shocked by the outburst which Stewart continued as he signed other autographs.

A witness said: "There were at least 40 people waiting for autographs and this guy had a big camera and was waiting with a woman at the front of the queue.

Rude

"One of the backstage people came out and said the actors wouldn't pose for pictures or sign anything other than show material in a rather pompous tone." Actor Ronald Pickup was first out followed by Stewart and then McKellan.

The witness added: "The woman the guy was with was getting her programme signed.

"Stewart suddenly looked up and said, 'Are you the a***hole who was sitting at the front tonight? You know, what I really want to know is how you can sleep at night? I really hope you're pleased with yourself'.

"The woman was horrified and clearly upset and walked off but the guy brassed it out.

"Someone said he tried to take a sneaky picture of McKellan and Stewart taking their encore at the end of the show and was caught by one of the stewards."

Another witness said: "I think they thought he was paparazzi or something because he had such a big camera but he didn't do anybody harm."

A spokeswoman for the theatre said: "It is generally regarded as rude and inconsiderate to take photographs during a live performance of this kind.

"The theatre displays signs throughout the building that photography and filming on any recording device is strictly prohibited.

"We have received a number of complaints from performers and audience. It is very disappointing that these people are willing to risk ruining the evening for everyone else."

Stewart is best known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek:TNG and Professor Xavier in the X-Men films.