Sir Tony Robinson reveals Miriam Margolyes once ‘tickled his balls’ but insists it ‘wasn’t sexual harassment’

Sir Tony Robinson revealed this week that he had unexpected sexual encounter with Miriam Margoyles, as she “tickled his balls” once.

Robinson, 76, recalled the moment on his new podcast Cunningcast as Margolyes, 81, joined him as his guest.

He insisted that it “wasn’t sexual harassment” and that he rather enjoyed the encounter at the time, while Margolyes seemed not to remember her actions.

Robinson said that he was waiting backstage with Margolyes when the incident happened.

The actor and broadcaster told listeners: “I was in the wings, waiting to go on. And suddenly you put your hand down my trousers and tickled my balls.”

Margoyles replied: “I never did!”

Robinson responded: “Why would I lie about a thing like that? I remember how split down the middle I was because a part of me thought, oh, my God, this is fantastic.”

He continued: “Nobody ever, just out of the blue does that to me. I must just squeeze every inch of pleasure out of this possible.

“The other part of me was thinking in about nine seconds time, I have to go on stage.”

Robinson classed the moment as “so funny” though he acknowledged that now it would be considered as sexual harassment.

He went on: “I suppose nowadays people would say that you sexually harassed me, but it wasn’t like that at all as far as I was concerned. Looking in your eyes, it was the funniest joke possible.”

Margoyles apologised for her actions on the podcast, stating: “How very unprofessional of me, I am now apologising for that era, but I can’t remember it.

“I’m so glad you remember it.”

Robinson assured: “It was probably the high point of my sexual life.”

Margoyles identifies as a lesbian and has been with her partner Heather Sunderland since 1968.

Robinson has been married to his second wife Louise Hobbs, who is 36 years his junior, since 2011.