Jump directly to the content

CHANNEL 4 has been hit with 400 complaints after Miriam Margolyes said she wished Boris Johnson had died from coronavirus.

The Harry Potter star, 78, raised eyebrows when asked how she felt the Prime Minister had handled the ongoing pandemic on chat show The Last Leg.

 Channel 4 has been hit with 400 complaints over Miriam Margolyes
5
Channel 4 has been hit with 400 complaints over Miriam MargolyesCredit: Channel 4

Viewers were left disgusted by her comments, with 400 complaining to the national media watchdog to investigate Channel 4.

Miriam's remark came after Mr Johnson was admitted to an intensive care unit at a London hospital after falling ill with Covid-19.

Presenters Adam Hills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdecombe appeared shocked as she ranted away and Margolyes quickly backtracked on her remarks.

She said: “Appallingly, of course, appallingly. It’s a disgrace, it’s a scandal. It’s a public scandal.

 The actress shocked viewers with her remarks about Boris Johnson
5
The actress shocked viewers with her remarks about Boris JohnsonCredit: crown copyright
 Miriam's comments received 400 complaints
5
Miriam's comments received 400 complaintsCredit: PA:Press Association

“I had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die. I wanted him to die. Then I thought that will reflect badly on me and I don’t want to be the sort of person that wants people to die.

“So then I wanted him to get better, which he did do, he did get better. But he didn’t get better as a human being. And I really would prefer that.

“So we’re in the s**t, basically, here.”

Many viewers took to Twitter over the comments.

 The star proved she isn't a fan of the PM
5
The star proved she isn't a fan of the PMCredit: EPA
 Her remarks also caused a stir on Twitter
5
Her remarks also caused a stir on TwitterCredit: PA:Press Association/PA Images

One wrote: "Miriam WANTED boris dead, I am no advocate of boris' decisions but he has NEVER said he wants people dead. Bad decisions are not comparable to a death wish."

Another said: "Never did like her, like her even less now. Take her MBE away from her. What a cow!"

A third tweeted: "Miriam Margoyles wishing Boris Johnson to die when he had coronavirus she definitely has no filter."

Boris Johnson recently opened up to The Sun on Sunday about his battle with coronavirus and how he had managed to recover in time to see the birth of his son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson.

He admitted he had been reluctant to go into St Thomas’ hospital, but the doctors were “adamant,” fitting him with a tube and putting him on oxygen.

He said: “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario.

"I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.

“They gave me a face mask so I got litres and litres of oxygen and for a long time I had that and the little nose jobbie.”

Piers Morgan blasts 'shameful' Miriam Margolyes for wishing Boris Johnson dead
Topics