Mo Gilligan took aim at the recent Miriam Margolyes and Andi Peters row during last night’s National Television Awards at The O2 Arena.
Taking to the stage to present the Factual Entertainment category, the comedian opened by telling the audience: “If you know me, I’m Mo Gilligan.”
He then added, before revealing the nominees: “And if you don’t know me, then I’m Andi Peters.”
The quip was understood to be a nod to the backlash Ms Margolyes faced after using a racist term to describe the This Morning star during a recent appearance on the programme.
Mo Gilligan made a cheeky Andi Peters joke while presenting an award at the NTAs
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Gogglebox ultimately took home the award.
Ms Margolyes had appeared on This Morning on September 3, where she used the expression “high yella” when referring to Mr Peters’ skin colour.
The phrase is a historically derogatory American term used to describe a Black person with a lighter complexion.
The incident sparked significant backlash against the Harry Potter star.
Miriam Margolyes sparked backlash over comments she made to Andi Peters during an appearance on This Morning
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Mr Peters, 56, had been on the programme alongside Ms Margolyes and Christine Lampard when the remark was made.
Broadcaster Jeremy Vine shared footage of the exchange on social media, describing it as “seriously nerve-wracking” and praising Mr Peters’ handling of the situation, writing: “@andipeters dealt with it brilliantly, but note at the end ‘they’re getting nervous’ [the producers].”
Mr Peters responded to Mr Vine’s praise, saying: “Thanks, JV. As you know, we have to be ready for ANYTHING!!!” (sic)
Mr Gilligan’s gag divided opinion online, with viewers rushing to social media to share their reactions.
Miriam Margolyes used the expression ‘high yella’ while referring to Andi Peters
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Some found his delivery amusing, with one user posting: “Mo Gilligan does make me laugh.”
Another added: “That was funny, Mo.”
“That was a good gag… I think,” said another.
However, others were less impressed.
“If you don’t know me, I’m Andi Peters. That joke fell flat as a pancake,” one person wrote on X.
Another penned: “Oof, not sure about that.”
Ms Margolyes subsequently addressed the controversy during a book tour appearance in Southend-on-Sea, insisting she had not intended to cause offence.
“I didn’t want to embarrass or hurt Andi because he seems very nice,” she told the audience.
Mo Gilligan was presenting the Factual Entertainment award at the National Television Awards
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The 85-year-old explained that she had never met Peters before the This Morning appearance and had not recognised him.
“I’d never met him before; I didn’t know who he was and I didn’t know he was Black until I saw him,” she said.
Defending her questioning, Ms Margolyes said it had stemmed from her curiosity about other people’s experiences.
“I wanted to know what he thought about it because that’s what interests me. How do Black people feel? How do Brown people feel? How do cripples feel? How do fat people feel?” she explained.