Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes has come under fire after making comments during a live radio appearance that led to the interview segment being removed from the show.

The 83-year-old actor, known for his outspoken manner, was speaking to presenter Kirsty Wark on Radio 4’s Front Row when she made the comment – which was described by the BBC as “unexpected”.

Speaking about her one-person play “Dickens’ Woman” at the Edinburgh Fringe, the actress revealed which of the author’s characters most captured her attention as a child.

“Oh, Fagin. Without question,” said Margolyes, further describing the villain from Oliver Twist as “Jewish and vile.”

After the audience laughed, she added: “I did not know such Jews back then – unfortunately, I know them today.”

The star of “James and the Giant Peach,” who is Jewish herself, outraged listeners with her comments and many of them took to social media to vent their anger at her comments.

On the social media site X, fans discussed whether the comments made were acceptable for a Jewish woman.

“A famous, bright actress from Harry Potter has just called Jews ‘Jewish and mean’ and compared them to a character from Dickens. The Edinburgh Festival ideologues in the audience find this not only acceptable but hilarious,” said an outraged AndrewGold_ok.

“Interesting that Miriam Margolyes, who is actually Jewish, calls Jews disgusting,” wrote Marilynrules1.

Others, however, were quick to point out that Margolyes’ comments could be read as a statement about Fagin’s character rather than his ethnic or religious affiliation – and that as a Jewish woman, she had every right to hold such an opinion.

“Listen to me, not everything is anti-Semitic when it comes to a Jewish person or figure. Fagin was despicable. Miriam Margolyes is Jewish herself, so maybe he caught her eye because he was Jewish. She wasn’t comparing Jews in that way, she was talking about FAGIN,” wrote CLJ12121974 in a long thread on the subject.

“Why lie about Miriam Margolyes’ testimony? She described Fagin as a Jew and mean and said that she (as a Jew) had not met mean Jews then, but now she has. She did not describe ‘Jews’ as mean,” stressed LevettRoblev1.

“Miriam Margolyes is a national treasure, she’s old and she can (and damn well does) say whatever she wants about Jews, about the fact that they’re Jews and stuff. That’s why it’s so funny. Develop a sense of humor,” Gonzonator1982 said.

The interview has since been removed, a BBC spokesman said: Metro.de that Margolyes’ words were “an unexpected comment”.

A statement said: “This was an unexpected comment during a live broadcast that should have been challenged at the time.”

“We took swift action to delist it and it is no longer available.”

They also acknowledged that these feelings “should have been questioned at the time.”

Representatives of Miriam Margolyes were contacted for comment.

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