Josh Widdecombe reacts with shock as Miriam Margolyes says that Boris Johnson got better from coronavirus but “not as a person” on The Last Leg, May 8. (Twitter/Screenshot)
Speaking about the UK government’s handling of coronavirus, Miriam Margolyes has controversially revealed that she “wanted Boris Johnson to die” when he was in hospital with the deadly disease.
Shocking viewers of The Last Leg, Margolyes added that while Johnson recovered from the virus, “he didn’t get better as a human being. And I really would prefer that.”
Boris Johnson left hospital on April 12, praising the NHS for saving his life after spending time in intensive care while battling COVID-19.
He’s been slowly recovering since, taking on his first Prime Minister’s Questions against new Labour leader Keir Starmer this week.
Appearing on Channel 4’s The Last Leg on May 9 – at a time when more than 31,000 people had been officially recorded to have died from the disease in the UK, with a disproportionate number of BAME people reflected in the death toll – Margolyes didn’t hold back when she was asked how she thinks the government has handled the coronavirus pandemic.
“Appallingly, of course, appallingly,” she said.
“It’s a disgrace, it’s a scandal. It’s a public scandal. I had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die.”
Miriam Margolyes just saying what a lot of people were thinking. #thelastleg #COVIDpic.twitter.com/3bvVUWIXgI #BorisJohnson #ToryCriminalCovidMismanagement #coronavirus
— Jerry Hicks (@JerryHicksUnite) May 9, 2020
Continuing, she said: “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.”
Miriam Margolyes ended her comments by declaring: “So we’re in the s**t, basically, here.”
Miriam Margolyes has just said live on tv she wanted Boris Johnson to die from COVID-19 I can’t believe @Channel4 @TheLastLeg would not cut her off straight after that comment! Absolutely disgraceful! #thinkbeforeyouspeak #BackBoris
— Lord Klaus (@Nicktorious_B1) May 8, 2020
The boys faces on #thelastleg when Miriam Margolyes said she ‘Had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die’.
— Claire (@MammyMeow) May 8, 2020
Reaction from viewers to her controversial comments has been mixed, with some praising her for speaking her mind and others feeling horrified by her admission that she wished someone dead.
Miriam Margolyes on Boris Johnson:
“I wanted him to die. Then I wanted him to get better. Then he got better, but not as a human”.
This is proof of why Miriam Margolyes is one of the best people on earth. #thelastleg
— Cal (@Panayisalad) May 8, 2020
When people are more upset about Miriam Margolyes than Boris Johnson and the rest of the Tories causing thousands of deaths through years of underfunding the NHS 😂 pic.twitter.com/jzIVtbz4SF
— Kayla Saunders (@Michaela_Jane9) May 9, 2020
Miriam Margolyes, 79, also added on the show – which is hosted by Adam Mills, Alex Brooker and Josh Widdecombe – that she is feeling lonely in lockdown.
The British-Australian actor, who’s been in a relationship with academic Heather Sutherland for 52 years, recently revealed that the pair are self-isolating separately, because they don’t usually live together – but that she “would’ve loved” for them to be together during lockdown.
“I don’t know whether she would because she’s an introvert,” she continued.
“So she likes to be quiet and get on with her work, she’s writing a book about Indonesia.
“I’m not afraid of it and I think we really will try to be together from now on, because that’s what life is about, loving someone.
“I was lucky enough to find someone who was prepared to love me, I’m not that loveable – I’m smelly and noisy and all that sort of thing.”
Speaking to Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby on This Morning, Margolyes concluded: “But she loves me and I want to be with her for the rest of my life, that’s all I want.”