Miriam Margolyes speaks out after backlash to describing Andi Peters with racist term

| Senior TV Reporter Published September 7, 2026 9:47am Updated September 7, 2026 9:48am Miriam Margolyes has publicly addressed her viral comment about Andi Peters’ race (Picture: ITV/Ben Davis) Miriam Margolyes has responded to the rising backlash after calling This Morning star Andi Peters a racist term. The outspoken actress, 85, is currently promoting her new memoir, Miriam’s Full English, with a packed press and stage tour, which included an appearance on the ITV daytime talk show. Known for her provocative public persona, the British-Australian screen star is now facing scrutiny for the viral interaction with Peters in which she interrogated him about his race, labelling him with an offensive and outdated term, ‘high yalla’. The term, also spelt ‘high yellow’ or ‘high yaller’, is a historically derogatory American expression for a Black person with a lighter complexion. Now, for the first time, Margolyes has publicly spoken out. Speaking live on stage at an audience event about her book, she said: ‘didn’t want to embarrass or hurt Andi because he seems very nice’. ‘I’d never met him before; I didn’t know who he was and I didn’t know he was Black until I saw him. When you see someone, of course you know they’re Black. ‘I wanted to know what he thought about it because that’s what interests me. How do Black people feel? How do Brown people feel? How do cripples feel? How do fat people feel?’ she listed, using an offensive term for disabled people. She continued: ‘You see what I mean? All of us feel something about who we are and how people see us, what they think of us.’ The host interjected to summarise that ‘in other words you wanted to discuss his identity with him’, to which Margolyes was in full agreement. ‘I am fascinated by other people. They are the people that interest me, not the celebrities so much. It’s everybody. What their story is, what made them who they are, why you are the way you are,’ she concluded. During the controversial interaction, she asked the 56-year-old presenter about his accent, then wondered if he had a ‘Black daddy and a white mummy?’ To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Andi asserted both his parents were Black, to which Margolyes then said: ‘Both parents are? I think you’re what I would call a “high yalla”. That’s what they call it in America. Oh, when someone isn’t deeply black, right?’ The conversation was cut from the ITVX broadcast but still made the social media rounds, with many slamming Miriam for her language, calling it ‘uncomfortable viewing’. Peters briefly addressed the situation after Jeremy Vine praised him for how he handled it, saying: ‘Thanks JV. As you know, we have to be ready for ANYTHING!!!’ ITV has not publicly addressed the saga, but during the live broadcast Peters remarked that producers were ‘getting nervous’ at the direction of the conversation as it was swiftly moved along. Margolyes responded at the time: ‘‘Don’t be nervous,’ Margolyes responded. ‘We welcome everybody. That’s what I want to write about in my book. It’s about inclusion.’ Deals of the Day Topman’s new-season collection has arrived and prices start at just £10 An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind Book Val d'Isère, Val Thorens and Tignes for less in Club Med's ski sale Save 25% on red light therapy masks, sauna blankets and sleep gadgets in Bon Charge sale The viral LED face mask with over 350 lights that's currently discounted by £100 Metro has reached out to ITVX for a comment. Arrow MORE: Miriam Margolyes uses racist term to describe shade of Andi Peters’ skin Arrow MORE: Miriam Margolyes: ‘I’m playing a nun but don’t worry – I keep the nipples out of it’ TV Newsletter Sign up and tell us which TV shows you love to watch to get personalised updates every morning.