BOJO RANT
HARRY Potter star Miriam Margolyes will not face an Ofcom investigation for saying she "wanted Boris Johnson to die" from coronavirus.
The British actor’s comments on Channel 4’s The Last Leg sparked fury from viewers, with nearly 500 complaints sent in to the TV watchdog.
Appearing live on the show last month, Miriam, 78, said she “had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die”, when he was in hospital with the disease.
Ofcom was hit with nearly 500 complaints after the programme, with viewers urging the watchdog to investigate.
Today, however, the regulator confirmed that Miriam would not face a probe into her remarks.
“These provocative comments had clear potential to offend viewers,” Ofcom said in a statement.
“But we also considered the audience’s likely expectations of Miriam Margolyes, a comic actor known for her forthright views, and of this live, late-night satirical comedy show.
“We also took into account that Ms Margolyes immediately qualified her comments, and viewers were warned in advance about the programme’s adult humour.”
A guest on The Last Leg’s show on May 8, Miriam said: “It’s a disgrace, it’s a scandal. It’s a public scandal.
“I had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die. I wanted him to die.
The actor then backtracked: “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.”
Some viewers took to social media to voice their concerns over the comments.
One wrote on Twitter: “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: “I love the last leg but I don’t like Miriam Margolyes saying she wishes Boris dead.”
The PM spent three nights in intensive care at St Thomas’ Hospital in London after contracting coronavirus.
Speaking to The Sun on Sunday after his battle with coronavirus, Mr Johnson admitted he was initially reluctant to go into hospital, despite later needing “litres and litres” of oxygen to support his breathing.
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.
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“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 little nose jobbie.”
Piers Morgan blasts 'shameful' Miriam Margolyes for wishing Boris Johnson dead