Miriam Margolyes dishes the dirt on 'unfriendly' Graham Norton guest

Virgin Radio

3 Jun 2024, 11:46

Graham Norton regular Miriam Margolyes spills the tea on the one celebrity guest she couldn’t stand sharing the sofa with.

The ever-candid Miriam Margolyes has once again proven that she's as delightfully unfiltered as ever.

At the Hay Festival on Saturday (1 June), Margolyes revealed the one Graham Norton Show guest she simply couldn't stand – none other than singer-turned-actor Lily Allen.

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Margolyes, who’s known for her outrageous anecdotes and zany humour, didn’t mince words during her appearance at the festival.

When asked about celebrities she disliked, Margolyes recalled her less-than-pleasant encounter with Allen during a 2014 episode of Graham Norton’s BBC chat show.

“She thought when she was on the programme that it was all about her,” Margolyes candidly explained. “She thought, ‘Who is this woman? Miriam who?’” Ouch, Lily! Sounds like someone forgot their manners.

Margolyes continued: “She wasn’t friendly and I didn’t like that and so I showed my dislike, which wasn’t very nice of me because she was much younger than me and I should have just taught her how to behave.”

Ever the straight-talker, Miriam admitted she could have handled it better but made it clear that Allen’s attitude rubbed her the wrong way.

The episode in question also featured actor Dominic Cooper, but it seems it was Allen who left a lasting (and not-so-favourable) impression on Margolyes.

Lily Allen, known for her hit songs and candid personality, has transitioned into acting in recent years. However, it appears she didn’t quite win over Margolyes with her performance on the chat show circuit.

But Lily wasn’t the only celeb to face Margolyes’s wrath at the Hay Festival. The Harry Potter star didn’t hold back on her thoughts about other famous faces either.

She described Monty Python legend John Cleese as someone who 'has become an a***hole' and didn’t have kind words for Bill Oddie either, stating bluntly, 'He is not a nice man.'

Margolyes, who has appeared on The Graham Norton Show numerous times, often becomes a viral sensation thanks to her outrageous and often risqué stories.

Her ability to captivate audiences with her tales has not only made her a fan favourite but also a hit on personalised video app Cameo, where she’s reportedly made 'an enormous amount of money.'

One particularly memorable appearance saw her sharing the couch with the late Friends star Matthew Perry.

Margolyes’s x-rated story left Perry visibly uncomfortable, with the actor admitting: “I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been more uncomfortable in my life.”

Always one to push the boundaries, Margolyes recounted in her memoir: “Matthew was expecting a bland conversation that stayed on the surface of things, but I was warming to my theme and immediately launched in, burrowing deeper.”

Margolyes’s unabashed honesty is part of what makes her such a beloved figure.

While some might find her bluntness a bit much, it’s clear that she values genuine interactions and isn’t afraid to call out bad behaviour when she sees it – even if it’s from a fellow celebrity.

So, the next time you’re tuning in to see who’s sharing the sofa with Graham Norton, keep an eye out.

If Miriam Margolyes is on, you’re in for a wild ride filled with honest opinions, hilarious stories, and maybe even a bit of celebrity dirt.

And as for Lily Allen, well, let’s just say she might be hoping for a bit of amnesia from the audience about her not-so-friendly encounter with the fabulous Miriam.

Margolyes is not the only one to have publicly discussed their relationship with Lily recently.

During a Guardian Q&A, in April of 2024, actor Keith Allen (Lily's father) didn't hold back when asked about his children Lily and Alfie Allen's acting endeavours, offering up some refreshingly candid responses.

When questioned about his daughter Lily's acting chops, Keith opted not to give a direct verdict, stating: "It's subjective, so I leave that up to your readers."

He cheekily dismissed the idea of offering her acting advice, quipping: "You must be joking. I don't think it would be of any value."