Miriam Margolyes shared her candid thoughts on new chancellor Jeremy Hunt on live radio this morning.
The actress was reacting to Mr Hunt's appointment on BBC Radio 4's Today programme when she admitted she wished she’d told the chancellor: "F**k you, you b*****d!." It was announced yesterday that Mr Hunt, who has previously held the titles of Foreign Secretary and Health Secretary, would replace Kwasi Kwarteng after he was dramatically sacked by Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Ms Truss removed her ideological ally from his post after just five weeks in the job. The sacking comes after Mr Kwarteng's shock budget announcement last month led to widespread economic chaos.
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Ms Margolyes was appearing on the Today programme to pay tribute to her Harry Potter co-star Robbie Coltrane, who died yesterday aged 72. As the interview drew to a close, the actress confessed to hosts Justin Webb and Martha Kearney that she never thought she’d be "sitting in the seat" where Mr Hunt had been sitting.
She said: “When I saw him there, I said, 'You’ve got a hell of a job, best of luck.’ And what I really want to say was, ‘F*** you, b*****d.’ But you can't say that.”
The co-hosts rushed to apologise, with Webb appearing to laugh as he said: "Oh no no no you mustn’t say that. We’ll have to have you out of the studio now." Kearney added: "We will, with many apologies."
The moment was shared by Dino Sofos, creator of the BBC’s Brexitcast, who described Margolyes' comments as "possibly the greatest moment in the Today programme’s history." People rushed to the comments to praise the 81-year-old actress.
Paul Thompson said: "I love Miriam Margolyes, she's a force of nature. And this morning on the Today Programme she spoke for the nation & cheered us up no end."
Cathryn Jupp agreed: "Having just said it, live on Radio 4. "National treasure" doesn't start to cover it! I want her for Christmas," while Elaine Taylor said: "Thanks Miriam Margolyes that’s the best laugh I’ve had in ages and well said."
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