Mo Gilligan took a swipe at Miriam Margolyes during the National Television Awards. The comedian referenced her controversial comments about Andi Peters. His joke sparked gasps and nervous laughter from the audience. The moment unfolded while Gilligan presented an award.
Mo Gilligan takes a swipe at Miriam Margolyes during the National Television Awards.
Gilligan presented an award at the National Television Awards in London and addressed Margolyes’ recent appearance on This Morning. The actress had made controversial remarks about presenter Andi Peters, sparking backlash online.
Gilligan appeared to reference the controversy during his introduction, as reported by the Daily Mail. “If you know me, I’m Mo Gilligan,” he told the audience. “And if you don’t know me, then I’m Andi Peters.”
The joke immediately drew gasps from the audience and prompted nervous laughter throughout the room. Gilligan then continued with the awards presentation, announcing Gogglebox as the winner of the Factual Entertainment award.
The reference quickly sparked debate on social media. Some viewers described Gilligan’s joke as funny and clever, while others criticized the comedian for bringing up the controversy. Some users said the offensive joke “fell as flat as a pancake.”
Margolyes had appeared on This Morning the previous Thursday. During the interview, she discussed Peters’ appearance and background. She used an offensive term describing Black people with lighter complexions.
Peters corrected Margolyes after she made assumptions about his parents. He explained that both of his parents are Black. Margolyes then continued discussing different skin tones.
The conversation became increasingly uncomfortable during the broadcast. Peters eventually acknowledged that producers were becoming nervous. ITV later removed the clip from its ITVX recording.
Margolyes subsequently addressed the backlash surrounding her remarks. She said she did not intend to embarrass or hurt Peters. She also explained that she wanted to understand his perspective.
The actress said she remained interested in discussing people’s identities. However, her comments continued to draw criticism. The controversy remained fresh when Gilligan referenced it.
The 2026 National Television Awards took place in London on Tuesday. Gilligan’s joke became one of the ceremony’s unexpected moments, adding another chapter to the controversy surrounding Margolyes.
