Actor Miriam Margolyes described fictional Charles Dickens character Fagin as “Jewish and vile” during a BBC presented live from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on Tuesday.

While discussing Margolyes’ show Margolyes & Dickens: The Best Bits, Front Row host Kristy Wark asked, “Who was the first Dickens character that stuck in your head as a child?” to which Margolyes replied: “Oh, Fagin. Without question. Jewish and vile.”

Her quick response prompted laughter, and Margolyes, 83, added: “I didn’t know Jews like that then – sadly I do now.”

The Jewish actor, who has been an outspoken fan of Jeremy Corbyn and a staunch critic of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s war in Gaza, was referring to the antagonistic Jewish character in Charles Dickens’ beloved novel Oliver Twist in her comment on the Radio 4 show. The villainous Fagin, described by the author as a miserly, cruel old man, is brazenly called “the Jew” throughout the book, and has come to represent an archetype in antisemitic literary lore.

Former BBC journalist Sarah Deech condemned Margolyes’ comment, writing on X: “This is plain and ugly racism, from a woman who’s given a pass because apparently she is a ‘national treasure.’ The fact Margolyes is herself Jewish is not the get out of free jail card you think it is.”

Journalist Etan Smallman also expressed disappointment over Margolyes's comment. He wrote on X: “Imagine turning on Radio 4 and hearing Miriam Margolyes describe a character as "Jewish and vile" - and the phrase gets a laugh from the audience, rather than an apology from the host. Goes to show being Jewish doesn't make you immune from perpetuating antisemitism.”

Margolyes, who grew up in a Jewish household in Oxford, told Radio Times in 2014: “I don’t think people like Jews. They never have. English literature, my great love, is full of greasy and treacherous Jews.

“I’m lucky they like me, and one always needs a Jewish accountant. Antisemitism is horrible and can’t be defended, but Israel is stupid for allowing people to vent it.”

Margolyes is a signatory of the Jewish-British activist group Jews for Justice for Palestinians and has been forthright in expressing her disapproval of Israeli military action in Gaza. She told the Guardian in 2019: “What I want to try to do is to get Jewish people to understand what's really going on, and they don't want to hear it. If you speak to most Jews and say, 'Can Israel ever be in the wrong?' they say, 'No. Our duty as Jews is to support Israel whatever happens.' And I don't believe that. It is our duty as human beings to report the truth as we see it.”

Margolyes’ show at the Fringe is comprised of two parts; during the first she recites scenes from her favourite Dickens’ novels with bits of her own commentary and during the second she holds a 30-minute Q&A session with the audience.

A BBC Spokesperson told the JC: “This was an unexpected comment made during a live broadcast which should have been challenged at the time. We have taken swift action to remove it from the programme and it is no longer available.”

Margolyes has been contacted for comment.