Over the years, Miriam Margoyles has been incredibly open about her health problems.
In 2023, the actress, 83, had a transcatheter aortic valve replacement operation to avoid a more invasive open-heart surgery.
But since then, Miriam has registered disabled and could be confined to a wheelchair because of a back condition.
The Harry Potter star has previously admitted that she regrets not making major lifestyle changes to improve her health.
Miriam, who lives in Clapham with her partner Heather since 1968, also fears as she gets older that she won’t be able to afford carers to look after her as her health worsens.
Read on below for a full timeline of Miriam’s health battle.
Over the years, Miriam Margoyles has been incredibly open about her health problems and has now registered disabled
In 2023, the actress, 83, had a transcatheter aortic valve replacement operation to avoid a 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 informed fans about her condition.
She wrote: ‘Thanks to my precious friends who thought of me on Tavi Day. I did survive and I am still in The Royal Brompton Hospital certainly till Sunday.
‘I am growing energy but it’s still not quite me. I am putting this so you know how grateful I am for lovely messages.
‘Slowly I’ll get back to The Chase and then Italy, Oz filming in WA and return for 22 city books tour on Sept 7. Loving hugs. MM’.
Miriam had been hoping to be sent home that Sunday but sadly took to Facebook again with another health update.
She wrote: ‘I spoke too soon. Can’t come home yet. I have a chest infection. Probably tomorrow but at least I’m resting. Love to all. Thank you for your lovely messages.’
Finally on the Tuesday, Miriam revealed she was being let home as she thanked all her fans for their well wishes.
She wrote: ‘Beloved chums. After a s*** yesterday I am going home later today.
‘Heartfelt thanks to all my wonderful friends who sent messages and to the very fine doctors and nurses at the 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 disabled and could be confined to a wheelchair because of a back condition
June 2023 – hospital dash
In June, she told Vogue how she was facing the surgery after being rushed to hospital in an emergency the month before.
Describing the health issue as ‘unexpected’, Miriam opened up that it had made her confront death as a result.
She said: ‘When you’re young, you never think about death. You just think about your next f**k basically. I think about death a lot.
‘Now every morning when I get up I think, ‘Hmmm, another day,’ which maybe I wasn’t expecting.’
September 2023 – weight struggles
During an appearance on the How To Fail podcast in September, the actress and presenter confessed she had not conquered her weight.
She said: ‘I am a blubber mass. I am fat. And to be fat and 82 is truly pathetic.’.
She has since also revealed her fears as she gets older and worries that she won’t be able to afford carers to look after her as her health worsens.
She told RadioTimes: ‘I’m worried that I won’t have enough money for carers when I finally get paralysed, or whatever it is that’s going to happen to me.’.
She added that she is now focusing on saving to provide for her and her partner and is embarking on another series of her hit show.
Miriam, who lives in Clapham with her partner Heather since 1968, also fears as she gets older that she won’t be able to afford carers to look after her as her health worsens
October 2023 – heart surgery
Miriam confirmed she had heart surgery and shared a health update.
She had a procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) – which she called a ‘refined’ operation and stopped her from having to have open heat 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’ve had an aortic valve replaced by a cow’s aortic valve.’
Jessie then asked: ‘Is that quite common?’ to which she replied: ‘I think it’s rather refined, actually!
‘I don’t know how common it is. I’d never heard of that operation. But it saves you from having open heart surgery, which would be infinitely more invasive.’
Lennie asked: ‘So how did they do it? With a keyhole?’
Miriam explained: ‘They made two little holes in your groin. One in each groin and then they shoved this thing through.
‘And I don’t know how they pull it up but they sort of pull it up with stereos. And then when it comes to the point, when it’s in your heart, they pull a little string and it goes pow!
‘And lo and behold, your artery or your aortic valve is shoved unceremoniously to the side.’
Miriam confirmed she had heart surgery and speaking on the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware she said: ‘I’ve got a cow’s heart now.’
August 2024 – registered disabled
Miriam recently revealed that she now struggles to walk and admitted she regrets not making serious life changes after undergoing an operation last year.
The actress had a transcatheter aortic valve replacement operation in to avoid a more invasive open-heart surgery, but revealed she still struggles with her health.
She also revealed that she is now registered disabled and could be confined to a wheelchair because of a back condition.
Miriam explained that spinal stenosis, which occurs when 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 kinds of assistance. I’ve got two sticks and a walker and they’re such a bore, but I’ve just got a mobility scooter, which is a lot of fun.’
But Miriam also revealed that she regrets not making major lifestyle changes to improve her health.
She said she wished she had been able to conquer her weight and described not doing so as a defeat.