The British-Australian actress Miriam Margolyes has recalled how she wanted UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson "to die" from coronavirus due to his handling of the pandemic.
The 78-year-old national treasure - who is perhaps best known for appearing as Professor Pomona Sprout in the Harry Potter movies and for her role in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence - made the comments while appearing on a special at-home episode of Channel 4's comedy talk show The Last Leg.
Watch Margolyes make her comments to the stunned presenters in the video below:When asked by host Adam Hills how she thought the government had handled the outbreak, she replied:
"Appallingly, of course, appallingly. It’s a disgrace, it’s a scandal. It’s a public scandal. I had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die.
"I wanted him to die. Then I thought that will reflect badly on me and I don’t want to be the sort of person that wants people to die.
"So then I wanted him to get better, which he did do, he did get better. But he didn’t get better as a human being. And I really would prefer that.
"So we’re in the s**t, basically, here."
Unsurprisingly, Margolyes' comments prompted some nervous laughter from the show's presenters, as comedians Adam Hills and Josh Widdicombe put their heads in their hands.
And despite saying that she did eventually go back on those thoughts, Margolyes still faced a backlash from viewers on Twitter for even making the comments in the first place:
However, there were also some viewers who applauded the legendary actress for her honesty:
Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed that he had been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus back on March 27. He revealed the news on his official Twitter account, saying:
"Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus. I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus. Together we will beat this. #StayHomeSaveLives"
After the PM's condition worsened, he was transferred to the intensive care unit at St Thomas' Hospital in London on April 6. He was released from the ICU three days later on April 9.
Less than three weeks later, Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds announced the birth of their first son.
