The fallout from Miriam Margolyes’ uncomfortable This Morning interview just got a whole lot messier.

Comedian Gina Yashere has taken aim at Andi Peters over what she describes as his passive response to Margolyes using a racist slur on live TV last week. And she didn’t hold back.

What Happened on This Morning

For those who missed it, here’s the rundown. Margolyes, 85, appeared on This Morning last week to promote her new book, Miriam’s Full English: A Grand Tour of All Our Best Bits, alongside hosts Andi Peters and Christine Lampard.

What started as a lighthearted chat took a sharp turn when Margolyes began questioning Peters, 56, about his accent and background. After impersonating Lampard’s Northern Irish accent, she turned to Peters and asked: “But what accent would be normal for you?”

When Peters replied, “This is normal. This is what I am,” Margolyes pressed on. “Oh, you’re a mix, aren’t you? You’ve got a black daddy and a white mummy,” she said.

Peters corrected her, explaining that both of his parents are Black. But Margolyes continued, describing him as “high yalla”—a historically derogatory American term for a Black person with a lighter complexion.

“I didn’t even know there were shades,” Peters responded, to which Margolyes replied: “There are shades”.

At that point, Peters could be seen touching his earpiece and telling viewers: “They’re getting nervous now. They’re getting nervous now”. Margolyes brushed it off, saying: “Don’t be nervous. We welcome everybody. That’s what I want to write about in my book. It’s about inclusion”.

Gina Yashere’s Response

Enter Gina Yashere. The 51-year-old comedian, who has worked extensively in both British and American television, took to social media to share her thoughts on Peters’ reaction—and she was not impressed.

“That reaction was on brand for Andi Peters,” Yashere said in a video rant. “I don’t think he’s known that he’s black for at least the last 35 years”.

She then recalled a previous encounter at ITV studios that she claims had stayed with her. “I was on a talent show… I was walking down the hallway of the ITV studios with my black friends and family. We saw Andi Peters walking towards us and we are all big fans [of Peters] … I don’t think he could have run away from this group of black people faster… I never forgot that”.

Yashere was left “appalled” by what she described as Peters’ passive response to the on-air exchange.

Peters’ Own Response

Peters himself addressed the incident shortly after it aired, albeit briefly. When fellow broadcaster Jeremy Vine praised how he handled the situation live on air, Peters replied on Instagram: “Thanks JV. As you know we have to be ready for ANYTHING!!!”.

Vine had written: “This is seriously nerve-wracking. No filter. @andipeters dealt with it brilliantly but note at the end – ‘they’re getting nervous’ [the producers]”.

The Fallout Continues

ITV has since removed the segment from the version of Thursday’s episode available on ITVX, though the broadcaster hasn’t publicly explained the decision. Footage of the exchange quickly spread across social media, sparking widespread criticism.

Viewers were quick to share their thoughts online. “It was embarrassing, and I felt really sorry for [Andi Peters],” wrote one user on X. “Utter cringe fest,” added another. “How dreadfully rude of Miriam Margolyes. Questioning Andi Peters’ skin colour too. Damn cheek”.

The incident also became material for other comedians. Mo Gilligan made a joke about it while presenting at the National Television Awards, saying: “If you know me, I’m Mo Gilligan. And if you don’t know me, then I’m Andi Peters”. The joke drew a mix of laughs and criticism from viewers.

There have even been calls for Margolyes to have her “national treasure” title stripped, with Piers Morgan among those demanding it.

Margolyes has since attempted to explain herself, saying she “didn’t want to embarrass or hurt Andi” and that she “didn’t know he was black until I saw him”. She also discussed her curiosity about how people from different backgrounds experience the world.

So there you have it. A deeply uncomfortable live TV moment, a comedian calling out the reaction, and a whole lot of opinions. The Miriam Margolyes-Andi Peters saga shows no signs of slowing down.

What do you think? Was Andi Peters’ reaction fair, or should he have pushed back harder? Let us know in the comments.

Tags: Andi Peters, Miriam Margolyes, Gina Yashere, This Morning, ITV, Racism Row, Mo Gilligan