Andi Peters has addressed the controversy surrounding remarks made by actress Miriam Margolyes, stating he must be "ready for anything" during his television appearances. The incident occurred during a segment on This Morning when Margolyes, 85, used the term "high yalla" to describe Peters' complexion.
ITV bosses intervened following the exchange, and the clip was subsequently removed from the ITVX recording of the show. Margolyes had appeared on the program to promote her book, "Miriam's Full English," which she described as being about inclusion. However, viewers expressed outrage on social media, with many accusing her of racism.
The term "high yalla," also spelled "high yaller" or "high yellow," is an antiquated and often offensive slang term used in the United States to describe a Black person with a light complexion. During the broadcast, Margolyes asked Peters about his accent, then commented on his mixed heritage before using the term. Peters, who confirmed both his parents are Black, responded by noting that producers seemed to be getting "nervous."
Fellow broadcaster Jeremy Vine shared the viral clip and called Margolyes' comments "seriously nerve-wracking." He praised Peters' handling of the situation, writing on social media, "@andipeters dealt with it brilliantly." Peters replied to Vine, thanking him and reiterating that "we have to be ready for ANYTHING!!!"
This is not the first time Margolyes has been involved in a controversy regarding her outspoken language. In 2024, the BBC removed a comment she made on air about Charles Dickens' character Fagin being "Jewish and vile." Margolyes, who is Jewish herself, had been discussing her early experiences with Dickens' work when she made the remark. The BBC stated the comment should have been challenged at the time.
Viewers' reactions on X, formerly Twitter, ranged from calling Margolyes "a run-of-the-mill racist" to questioning the appropriateness of her language. Some argued that while her comments might be ignorant, they did not constitute racism, while others defended her, suggesting it was a matter of "ignorance maybe but this isn't racism."