Miriam Margolyes lands gender-swapped James Bond role weeks after ITV racism row

The casting announcement comes just weeks after the actress found herself at the centre of a racism controversy following an appearance on ITV’s This Morning.

She appeared to question presenter Andi Peters about his racial heritage and used a term relating to skin tone that provoked widespread criticism from viewers.

During her appearance on the ITV programme on September 4, Ms Margolyes began quizzing Mr Peters about his accent before asking: “What are you?”

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When the presenter responded with bemusement, she continued: “Well, you’re a mix, aren’t you?”

She added: “So you’ve got a black daddy and a white mummy.”

Mr Peters corrected her, stating that both his parents were black, before joking: “Am I a lighter shade than normal?”

Ms Margolyes then used the term “high-yalla,” which she explained was an American expression for “when someone isn’t deeply black.”

Mr Peters appeared visibly uncomfortable, gesturing towards his earpiece and noting that production staff had been “getting nervous.”

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The exchange rapidly spread across social media, sharply dividing opinion.

One viewer on X wrote: “She really needs to not be on telly ever again.”

Another branded the incident “embarrassing”.

However, some users insisted that her comments were harmless.

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Despite the controversy, Ms Margolyes expressed clear enthusiasm for her new role.

“Cleek is a violent, probably insane semi-criminal who works for Lord Hellebore on his estate in Scotland,” she said.

“You wouldn’t want to meet her on a dark night, that’s for sure. I do enjoy playing nasty people!”

Barnaby Edwards, who is both writing and directing the audio drama, spoke warmly of the decision to reimagine the character.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to have Miriam in my life for two decades now,” he said.

“She’s an extraordinary human being and a phenomenal actress.

“When I began adapting SilverFin, I was determined to get more female characters into it.”

Both IFPL and Mr Higson approved the gender swap.

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Ms Margolyes joins fellow newcomers Harry Marcus and Christopher Nathan, alongside Isaac Rouse of The Crown fame, who stars as the young Bond.

The casting news arrived amid ongoing speculation about the future of the Bond film franchise.

Mr Higson, whose Young Bond novels form the basis of the audio series, has weighed in on the debate over who should succeed Daniel Craig as 007.

The author previously described Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden, currently the bookmakers’ favourite for the role, as an “unconvincing choice.”

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Mr Higson has since suggested that whichever actor Amazon Studios MGM selects as its first Bond since acquiring the franchise will face a hostile reception.

“Whatever the answer, everyone will be very angry when they find out,” he told The Telegraph.

Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has been tapped to pen the screenplay for the next Bond film, with Dune director Denis Villeneuve set to helm the project.

Mr Knight was quizzed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about whether the new 007 had already been chosen, but remained evasive.

“I cannot speak about this subject. Much as I would dearly love to,” he said with a laugh.

Pressed by presenter Anna Foster on whether knowing the actor’s identity influenced his writing process, Mr Knight said: “It does make life a little bit easier if you know who that person is, but also you have to write the character, not the actor.”