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Media watchdog under pressure to probe Channel 4 over Miriam Margolyes’ sick ‘Wanted her to die’ taunt on Boris Johnson
- Ofcom urged to investigate Channel 4 after Miriam Margolyes’ comments
- She said she wanted Boris Johnson to die in Friday’s episode of The Last Leg.
- Conservative MPs were concerned that the presenters would not intervene in the conversation
- Here we show you how to help people affected by Covid-19
The media watchdog was urged to investigate Channel 4 after it issued comments from actress Miriam Margolyes in which she said she had wanted Boris Johnson to die of the coronavirus.
Yesterday there was mounting anger over the way the station has handled the highly controversial comments made on the episode of the chat show The Last Leg on Friday night.
A member of parliament Tory said Ofcom should investigate and “demand an apology” from Channel 4. Another conservative member of parliament expressed disbelief at how “left-wing luvvies” felt this type of comment was acceptable.
Tory’s lawmakers have urged Ofcom to investigate Channel 4 for the Harry Potter actress (pictured) of Miriam Margolyes’ comments about wanting Boris Johnson to die
The discussion arose when show host Adam Hills asked Miss Margolyes how she felt the government had handled the virus crisis so far.
Speaking from her home via video link, the 78-year-old actress replied: ‘Apparently, of course, terribly. It is a disgrace, it is a scandal. I had a hard time not wanting Boris Johnson to die. I wanted him to die.
“So I thought that would reflect badly on me … so I wanted it to improve.”
There were concerns yesterday about how the presenters, Mr Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker, had not weighed in during the conversation with the Harry Potter actress.
Yesterday, when asked if he would apologize to Johnson, a Channel 4 spokesman said the show was live and that “unexpected comments may occur.”
He added that the actress had continued to say that she wanted Mr. Johnson to improve.
But there was conservative fury over the comments by the former Labor supporter.
Bill Cash, Deputy Tory for Stone, said: ‘It is a scandalous comment to make and a blatant violation of the broadcast act. I think Ofcom should investigate it and apologize. “
Photo: Boris Johnson in March. Yesterday, when asked if he would apologize to Johnson, a Channel 4 spokesman said the show was live and that “unexpected comments may occur.”
And fellow MP Tory Andrew Bridgen added: “You really have to wonder what world these left-wing Luvites live in and who they’re talking to so that they consider these kinds of comments to be acceptable.”
Ofcom said last night that any complaint would have to be evaluated before making a decision on whether to investigate or not.
He couldn’t say last night if he had received any complaints.
Channel 4 has already suffered difficult relationships with conservatives after a series of incidents, including its decision to replace Johnson in a debate with an ice sculpture. And the announcer’s former head of news and current affairs described him as a “known liar.”
