Mo Gilligan makes Andi Peters joke at NTAs after backlash against Miriam Margolyes

Mo Gilligan has made a joke about Miriam Margolyes and the recent backlash she faced after she used a racist term to describe This Morning star, Andi Peters.

The comedian was presenting the Factual Entertainment award at the NTAs when he made the joke.

Wandering out on stage, he introduced himself to the audience, explaining that he was Mo Gilligan.

‘If you know me, I’m Mo Gilligan,’ he began, but before announcing the nominees, he said: ” And if you don’t know me, then I’m Andi Peters”

The joke is thought to be a reference to Margolyes’ recent appearance on This Morning, where she used the term ‘high yella’ to refer to Peters skin colour.

The term is a historically derogatory American expression for a Black person with a lighter complexion.

Following Gilligan’s joke, many took to social media to let the world know how they felt about it.

There was a mix of those who found the joke funny, with many sharing GIFs of people laughing and those who found it all a bit awkward.

@Racingfan211 wrote: ‘Mo Gilligan does make me laugh’ while @PJDavies1962 claimed: ‘That was funny, Mo.’

@AndyGibsonTV, however, said:’If you don’t know me, I’m Andi Peters. That joke fell flat as a pancake.’

Since Margolyes appeared on This Morning, Peters has responded to the incident.

The This Morning presenter, 56, briefly addressed the incident after fellow broadcaster Jeremy Vine praised the way he dealt with Margolyes.

Sharing the footage on social media, Vine wrote: ‘This is seriously nerve-wracking. No filter.

‘@andipeters dealt with it brilliantly, but note at the end – “they’re getting nervous” [the producers].’

To which Peters then responded: ‘Thanks, JV. As you know, we have to be ready for ANYTHING!!!’

Margolyes has also spoken about it at a book tour event in Southend-on-Sea, where she said she ‘didn’t want to embarrass or hurt Andi because he seems very nice’.

However, her words were not well recieved as while speaking she used the word ‘cripple’ to refer to people with disabilities.