Miriam Margolyes has spoken publicly about the controversy surrounding her recent appearance on ITV’s This Morning, saying she never intended to embarrass or cause harm to presenter Andi Peters during their live interview.

The 85-year-old actor, best known for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film series, addressed the backlash while promoting her latest book. She said that her comments were motivated by curiosity about people’s experiences and identities rather than any desire to offend.

During the interview, Margolyes and Peters were discussing her book Miriam’s Full English when the conversation moved towards personal background and heritage. After Margolyes commented on Peters’ appearance and family background, the discussion became uncomfortable when she used an outdated and offensive racial term.

Peters corrected her assumptions, explaining that both of his parents are Black. The presenter attempted to keep the conversation moving, but producers appeared to become concerned and communicated with him through his earpiece.

The moment was later removed from the version of the programme available on ITVX.

Speaking afterwards, Margolyes said she regretted causing discomfort and insisted that she did not want to hurt Peters, whom she described as a “very nice” person.

She explained that she has always been interested in understanding how different groups of people experience the world, including how individuals view themselves and how they feel they are perceived by others.

Margolyes said her intention was to explore human experiences and identity, which she described as a major theme of her writing.

“I am fascinated by other people,” she said, explaining that she is more interested in ordinary people’s stories and what shapes them than celebrity culture.

The controversy began after the live interview, when viewers reacted strongly to the exchange on social media. Some criticised Margolyes’ choice of language as offensive and inappropriate, while others debated whether her comments reflected ignorance, curiosity or prejudice.

Peters later addressed the incident indirectly, responding to comments from BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine. Vine praised Peters for handling the difficult live television moment professionally and noted the unpredictable nature of broadcasting.

Peters replied that presenters have to be prepared for anything when working live on air.

Margolyes has developed a reputation throughout her career for speaking openly and often making unexpected remarks during interviews. While many fans admire her honesty and humour, her outspoken style has also previously attracted criticism when comments have been viewed as insensitive.

The actor said that the message behind her new book is ultimately about inclusion and understanding people from different backgrounds.

She maintained that her interest lies in learning about people’s lives, emotions and personal histories, rather than judging them based on appearance or identity.

The incident has renewed discussion about the challenges of live television, where spontaneous conversations can quickly create controversy, particularly when sensitive subjects such as race, identity and personal background are involved.

Despite the backlash, Margolyes said she hopes people will understand the broader intention behind her work: encouraging conversations about who people are, how they see themselves and how society views them.