Shockwaves as Miriam Margolyes’ ‘Racist’ Remark on This Morning Sparks ITV Backlash – What Really Happened?
Miriam Margolyes, the indefatigable 83-year-old known for calling ’em as she sees ’em, has sparked quite the uproar after dropping a historical racial slur during a chat with Andi Peters on ITV’s This Morning. You’d think promoting a book about inclusion would keep things above board, right? Nope. Instead, Margolyes’ well-intentioned, if awkward, exchange about identity and accents took a turn that left viewers—and Peters himself—a bit shell-shocked. It’s a question nobody wants on live TV: “What are you?” And when Margolyes got her facts wrong, things spiraled quickly, raising eyebrows and ire across social media. Is it possible to be both outspoken and mindful in this cancel-happy era? Or is it just another reminder that walking the line on race and identity in public discourse remains a tightrope act with no safety net? Grab some popcorn—it’s a conversation that’s as messy as it is timely.
Miriam Margolyes has caused controversy after using a historical racial slur while talking to Andi Peters on This Morning.
Margolyes, 83, appeared on the ITV morning show on Thursday to promote her upcoming new book but the conversation descended into an awkward exchange towards the end of the interview when she asked Peters “What are you?” as they discussed accents.
“What am I? I’m me?” a taken aback Peters replied.
Margolyes continued: “Well, you’re a mix, aren’t you? So you’ve got a Black daddy and a white mummy.”
When the talk show host then said both his parents were black, Margolyes expressed surprise and used a racial slur.
Margolyes on This Morning (ITV)
Peters attempted to diffuse the situation by quipping his makeup artist had used a ‘lighter shade than normal’ but Margolyes went on, repeating the term.
Peters replied and joked that the producers were ‘getting nervous now.’
“Don’t be nervous,” Margolyes said. “We welcome everybody and that’s what I want to write about in my book, it’s about inclusion.
“Not that there are people who need to be pushed out. And I’m not going to say who they are. You’ve got to read the book to find out.”
Peters managed to keep the mood light, concluding with: ““There we go! What a way to… and that’s how we will end this. On a short plug for the book.”
Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in Harry Potter, has faced a massive backlash on social media for using the slur, while ITV have removed the conversation from the catch-up version of the broadcast on ITVX.
Andi Peters during the exchange (ITV)
LADbible Group has approached representatives of Miriam Margolyes and ITV for comment.
Margolyes new book is entitled Miriam’s Full English: A Grand Tour of All Our Best Bits and was released on September 3.
The book’s description claims: “It’s time to make Britain great again, and let’s do it together, one story at a time.”
It also compares the UK to a full English breakfast, saying: “That’s the real secret of Britain and the British for me – not shutting things out but welcoming in more. I mean, even our flag is called the UNION Jack” and says it “explores Britain’s identity, examining fairness, free speech, and what unites Scotland, Wales, England, and Ireland.”
Margolyes is well known for being outspoken, famously once launching an x-rated insult at conservative MP Jeremy Hunt and calling Lilly Allen ‘unfriendly’ after appearing on Graham Norton alongside her.
“She thought when she was on the programme that it was all about her,” she said in an interview with author Philippe Sands. “She thought, ‘Who is this woman? Miriam who?’”
“She wasn’t friendly and I didn’t like that and so I showed my dislike, which wasn’t very nice of me because she was much younger than me and I should have just taught her how to behave.”
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