Miriam Margolyes has sparked outrage after labelling a Charles Dickens character "Jewish and vile" during a live BBC radio interview. The 83-year-old actor, known for her role as Professor Sprout in the *Harry Potter
films, made the comment while discussing her one-woman show, *Dickens' Women*, on Radio 4's *Front Row* at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Presenter Kirsty Wark asked Margolyes which Dickens character had captivated her as a child, to which the actor replied, "Oh, Fagin. Without question. Jewish and vile." The comment was met with laughter from the audience, and Margolyes added, "I didn't know Jews like that then â sadly, I do now."
Fagin, a character in Dickens' 1838 novel *Oliver Twist*, is portrayed as a receiver of stolen goods. While the character's portrayal has been criticised for perpetuating antisemitic stereotypes, Margolyes' comments have been met with widespread condemnation on social media.
One user on X/Twitter wrote, "Imagine turning on Radio 4 and hearing Miriam Margolyes describe a character as 'Jewish and vile' - and the phrase gets a laugh from the audience, rather than an apology from the host. Goes to show that being Jewish doesn't make you immune from perpetuating antisemitism."
Others defended Margolyes' comments, arguing that she was merely referencing Dickens' portrayal of Fagin. However, the BBC has since acknowledged the issue, stating that Margolyes' remark was an "unexpected comment made during a live broadcast" that "should have been challenged at the time".
The broadcaster has taken immediate action, removing the audio from its streaming platforms. "We have taken swift action to remove it from the programme and it is no longer available," a BBC spokesperson confirmed.
This incident follows a previous controversy involving Margolyes. In April, she filmed a video for the Jewish Council of Australia condemning the Israel-Gaza conflict, in which she declared "Hitler has won" and expressed her "shame" at Israel's actions.
Margolyes' representatives have been contacted for comment regarding the recent Dickens controversy. This incident highlights the importance of addressing harmful stereotypes and the need for broadcasters to exercise caution in handling sensitive topics during live broadcasts.