Media watchdog is under pressure to probe Channel 4 over Miriam Margolyes’s sick ‘I wanted him to die’ jibe at Boris Johnson

• Ofcom was urged to investigate Channel 4 after Miriam Margolyes’ comments
• She said she had wanted Boris Johnson to die on Friday’s The Last Leg episode
• Tory MPs were concerned that presenters did not step into the conversation 
• Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19

The media watchdog has been urged to investigate Channel 4 after it aired comments by actress Miriam Margolyes in which she said she had wanted Boris Johnson to die from coronavirus.

Yesterday there was growing anger about the way the broadcaster has handled the hugely controversial remarks made on Friday night’s episode of chat show The Last Leg.

One Tory MP said Ofcom should investigate and ‘demand an apology’ from Channel 4. Another Conservative MP expressed disbelief at how ‘Left-wing luvvies’ felt this type of remark was acceptable.

The row was sparked when presenter of the show Adam Hills asked Miss Margolyes how she felt the Government had handled the virus crisis so far.

Speaking from her home through a video link, the actress, 78, replied: ‘Appallingly, of course, appallingly. It’s a disgrace, it’s a scandal. I had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die. I wanted him to die.

Tory MPs have urged Ofcom to investigate Channel 4 for Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes’s comments about wanting Boris Johnson to die 

‘Then I thought that will reflect badly on me… so then I wanted him to get better.’

There were concerns yesterday at the way the presenters – Mr Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker – had failed to step in during the conversation with the Harry Potter actress.

Yesterday when asked if it would be apologising to Mr Johnson, a Channel 4 spokesman said the programme was live and ‘unexpected comments can happen’.

It added that the actress had gone on to say she wanted Mr Johnson to get better.

But there was fury from the Conservatives about the comments from the long-time Labour supporter.

Bill Cash, the Tory MP for Stone, said: ‘It is an outrageous comment to make and completely in flagrant breach of the broadcasting act. I believe Ofcom should look into it and demand an apology.’

Pictured: Boris Johnson in March.  Yesterday when asked if it would be apologising to Mr Johnson, a Channel 4 spokesman said the programme was live and ‘unexpected comments can happen’

And fellow Tory MP Andrew Bridgen added: ‘You really have to wonder what world these Left-wing luvvies inhabit and who they talk to that they think these sorts of comments are acceptable.’

Ofcom said last night any complaints would have to be assessed before a decision is made on whether to investigate.

It was unable to say last night whether it had received any complaints.

Channel 4 has already suffered difficult relations with the Conservatives after a series of incidents including its decision to replace Mr Johnson on a debate with an ice sculpture. And the broadcaster’s former news and current affairs chief described him as a ‘known liar’.

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