British acting icon Miriam Margolyes confirmed for “rare insight” documentary with BBC

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BBC Two has purchased a new documentary that provides a personal and revealing glimpse into the life of beloved actress Miriam Margolyes.

What started as a simple podcast project for director Simon Draper (known for ‘Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour’) evolved into a genuine and humorous look at how much a friendship can really mean. The entire film was shot on Draper’s phone.

After losing his job, Draper began a personal project with Margolyes. It started as a way for her to reflect on her life and share what she’d learned – something she thought would be her last major undertaking. However, she unexpectedly became very popular, changing the project’s scope.

Margolyes got busy with a lot of different things after that, like promoting a book in Australia, making an effort to see longtime friends while she still could, and even meeting the Queen – all while Draper documented everything.

She continues by sharing deeply personal and uplifting thoughts about her remarkable life, and how she’s embraced a successful new chapter later in life.

As Simon and Miriam grapple with the challenges of aging and their own insecurities, their connection becomes the most moving part of the film. It shows that Miriam’s lasting impact isn’t just her famous work, but the positive changes she’s made in people’s lives, starting with Simon himself.

Simon Draper initially thought it would be simple to create a podcast with Miriam Margolyes, seeing as podcasts are so popular now. However, he quickly discovered that Miriam leads a wonderfully chaotic life! They only managed to produce five episodes over two years, but Draper says spending time with her was incredibly impactful. He describes her as outspoken and delightfully unpredictable, and feels fortunate to have captured her unique energy and honesty. He’s very happy to have her as a friend.

Lana Salah, Creative Director at Rex TV, explained that she launched Rex with the goal of creating heartfelt and funny television. When Simon presented her with this project, she immediately wanted to help bring it to life. She shared her affection for Miriam and praised Simon’s ability to create something genuinely touching and comedic. Supporting both of them, she believes, perfectly reflects the values of Rex and the Zinc Group.

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Miriam Margolyes Made Me Me will air on BBC Two and iPlayer later this year.

Authors

Katelyn MensahSenior Entertainment Writer

Katelyn Mensah is a Senior Entertainment Writer at TopMob, where she reports on popular TV shows, reality competitions, and impactful documentaries. Before joining TopMob, she worked at The Tab, covering reality TV and celebrity news. She holds a Journalism BA (Hons) degree.

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2026-02-12 15:35