Miriam Margolyes interrogates Andi Peters about his race on live TV in uncomfortable interview

Miriam Margolyes has found herself in hot water once again after quizzing This Morning host Andi Peters about his race on live TV. 

The outspoken actor, who’s best known for her roles in TV shows like Blackadder, appeared on the ITV show to promote her new book Miriam’s Full English: A Grand Tour of All Our Best Bits.

However, the interview took a turn towards the end of the segment when Margolyes, 85, began to ask Peters and his co-host Christine Lampard about their lives. 

‘You’re more interesting than I am,’ began Margolyes. ‘And if I had half the chance, I would interview you.’ 

When Lampard replied, ‘I would love you to,’ Margolyes began impersonating the host’s Northern Irish accent. 

Margolyes then asked Peters: ‘What accent would be normal for you?’ to which he replied, ‘Well, this is my normal accent.’

‘What are you?’ she asked, to which he responded, ‘What am I? I’m me.’

The actor then said, dropping the Irish accent: ‘Well, you’re a mix, aren’t you? So you’ve got a Black daddy and a white mummy.’

Slightly lost for words, Peters corrected her, explaining that ‘both [his] parents were Black’, after which Margolyes replied: ‘I think you’re what I would call high…’

Attempting to diffuse the situation, Peters interrupted with a joke, asking if his makeup artist had used a ‘lighter shade than normal’, but Margolyes continued to talk.

‘I think you’re high yella,’ she said, to which Peters asked: ‘What’s high yella?’

‘That’s what they call it in America,’ laughed Margolyes. ‘When someone isn’t deeply Black.’

Again Peters attempted to defuse the increasingly awkward conversation by saying: ‘He didn’t know there were shades’. 

‘There are shades,’ explained Margolyes. ‘And this is what we…’

Before Margolyes could finish her thought, however, Peters explained that his producers were ‘getting nervous now’.

‘Don’t be nervous,’ she said. ‘We welcome everybody, and that’s what I want to write about in my book.’

Since the interview was broadcast, the part where Margolyes asks Peters about his race has been edited out of the version uploaded to ITVX, ITV’s streaming service.

However, clips from the interview have been circulating online, and viewers have been keen to share their thoughts. 

‘It was embarrassing, and I felt really sorry for [Andi Peters],’ wrote @nosnevetsnej on X. 

‘Utter cringe fest,’ added @OldeWorzel. ‘“What are you???” How dreadfully rude of Miriam Margoyle. Questioning Andi Peters’ skin colour too. Damn cheek.’

While @j_l_marsden wrote: ‘Andy Peters did well to hold it together being spoken to like this.

‘What an absolute scumbag Miriam Margolyes is.’

Some viewers went so far as to claim that Margolyes’ language had been racist.

@CharlieFarnsba9 wrote: ‘Miriam Margolyes being her usual rude, nasty and racist self on @thismorning on ITV, even the Gallery started panicking and said something in Andy Peters earpiece. What a vile and disgusting woman she is; why do they ever give her airtime?’

@hearnimator added: ‘Miriam Margolyes just sounds like a run-of-the-mill racist here. It’s very uncomfortable viewing.’

Meanwhile @AdeshaF commented: ‘Disappointing from Miriam (I usually really enjoy her interviews). That was really uncomfortable to watch/listen to; Andi did well but looked understandably shaken by it.

They finished by saying it was ‘sad to see a national treasure I’ve grown up with still subjected to this kind of racist [rubbish] in 2026.’

Others alleged that the term ‘high yella’ is offensive and colourist language which suggests a hierarchy within the Black community, where those with lighter skin have social privileges denied to those with a darker complexion.

Metro has approached Margolyes, Peters and ITV for comment.