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Over the years, Miriam Margoyles has been incredibly open about her health struggles.
In 2023, the 83-year-old actress underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement surgery to avoid more invasive open-heart surgery.
But Miriam has since registered as disabled and could be confined to a wheelchair due to a back problem.
The Harry Potter star previously admitted that she regrets not making major lifestyle changes to improve her health.
Miriam, who has lived in Clapham with her partner Heather since 1968, also fears that as she gets older she will not be able to afford carers to look after her as her health deteriorates.
Continue reading below for a complete timeline of Miriam’s health battle.
Over the years, Miriam Margoyles has been incredibly open about her health issues and has now registered as disabled.
In 2023, the 83-year-old actress underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement surgery to avoid more invasive open-heart surgery.
May 2023: Chest infection
Miriam was taken to the Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea, London, with a chest infection.
The comedian, who played Professor Sprout in the fantasy franchise, shared a photo of herself taken in her hospital bed as she updated fans on her condition.
She wrote: ‘Thank you to my dear friends who thought of me on Tavi’s day. I survived and will still be in the Royal Brompton Hospital until Sunday.
“I’m gaining energy, but I’m not myself yet. I’m writing this to let you know how grateful I am for your lovely messages.”
‘I’ll be slowly getting back to The Chase and then filming Italy, Oz in WA and returning for the 22 book tour in the city on September 7th. Warm hugs. MM.’
Miriam was expecting to be sent home that Sunday, but sadly she was back on Facebook with another health update.
She wrote: “I spoke too soon. I can’t go home yet. I have a chest infection. Probably tomorrow, but at least I’m resting. Love to everyone. Thanks for your lovely messages.”
Finally on Tuesday, Miriam revealed that she would be allowed to go home and thanked all her fans for their well wishes.
She wrote: ‘Dear friends. After yesterday’s nonsense, I’m going home later today.
‘My sincere thanks to all my wonderful friends who sent me messages and to the excellent doctors and nurses at RBHT who put up with me.’
The Harry Potter star has previously admitted that she regrets not making major lifestyle changes to improve her health.
Miriam has registered as disabled and may be confined to a wheelchair due to a back problem.
June 2023: Race to the hospital
In June, she told Vogue how she was coping with the surgery after being rushed to hospital the previous month.
Miriam described the health problem as “unexpected” and said it led her to face death as a result.
She said: ‘When you’re young, you never think about death. You basically just think about your next fuck. I think about death a lot.
“Now every morning when I wake up I think, ‘Hmmm, another day,’ something I might not have expected.”
September 2023 – fight against weight
During an appearance on the How To Fail podcast in September, the actress and presenter confessed that she had not conquered her weight.
She said: “I’m a blob of fat. I’m fat. And being fat and 82 years old is really pathetic.”
She has since also revealed her fears as she ages and worries about not being able to afford carers to look after her as her health deteriorates.
She told RadioTimes: “I’m worried I won’t have enough money for carers when I eventually become paralysed, or whatever’s going to happen to me.”
She added that she is now focusing on saving money to support herself and her partner and is embarking on another series of her hit show.
Miriam, who has lived in Clapham with her partner Heather since 1968, also fears that as she gets older she will not be able to afford carers to look after her as her health deteriorates.
October 2023 – cardiac surgery
Miriam confirmed that she underwent heart surgery and shared a health update.
He underwent a procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), which he called a “refined” operation that prevented him from having to undergo open-heart surgery.
Speaking on the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware, she said: ‘I’ve got a cow’s heart now.
—Well, not the whole heart. I had my aortic valve replaced with a cow aortic valve.
Jessie then asked, “Is that pretty common?” to which she replied, “I think it’s pretty refined, actually!”
“I don’t know how common it is. I’ve never heard of that operation. But it saves you open-heart surgery, which would be infinitely more invasive.”
Lennie asked, ‘And how did they do it? With a lock?’
Miriam explained: ‘They made two small holes in your groin, one in each groin, and then they put this thing in.
“And I don’t know how they do it, but they do it with stereos. And then when the time comes, when it’s in your heart, they pull a little string and it goes boom!
“And lo and behold, your artery or your aortic valve is unceremoniously pushed to one side.”
Miriam confirmed she had undergone heart surgery, speaking on the Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware podcast: “I’ve got a cow’s heart now.”
August 2024 – Registered as disabled
Miriam recently revealed that she now struggles to walk and admitted she regrets not making serious changes to her life after undergoing surgery last year.
The actress underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement surgery to avoid more invasive open-heart surgery, but revealed she still has health problems.
She also revealed that she is now registered as disabled and may be confined to a wheelchair due to a back problem.
Miriam explained that spinal stenosis, which occurs when the space around the spinal cord becomes too narrow compressing the nerves, could make it difficult for her to walk, restricting her to a wheelchair.
In an interview with Closer, the star said: “I can’t walk very well and I’m registered disabled so I use all sorts of aids. I’ve got two canes and a walker and they’re really boring, but I’ve got a mobility scooter, which is really fun.”
But Miriam also revealed that she regrets not having made important changes in her lifestyle to improve her health.
She said she wished she could have gotten over her weight and described not doing so as a defeat.