Harriet Walter Is a Self-Satisfied Thatcher in 'Brian & Margaret's First Look
Steve Coogan as Brian Walden and Harriet Walter as Margaret Thatcher in 'Brian & Margaret'
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Lovers of James Graham’s Sherwood, take note: his next series, focusing on the final days of Margaret Thatcher’s prime ministership, has released its first images. The series, commissioned by Channel 4, is one of the network’s upcoming awards bait series that’s found terra firma after the network re-established its footing in the production space after severe budget cuts and threats to sell it off floating about during 2022 and 2023. Starring Dame Harriet Walter (Wolf Hall) as Thatcher and Steve Coogan (....with Alan Partridge) in the rare serious drama role as BBC interviewer Brian Walden, a former Labour politician who was considered Auntie Beeb’s best political interviewer in his day, the series recreates their final televised interview that ultimately led to Thatcher’s resignation.
Known in the U.K. as “The Walden Interview,” the lunchtime sitdown is one of the most infamous BBC interviews Walden ever conducted, to the point that when he passed away in 2019, most of his obituaries celebrated him as “the man who helped topple Thatcher.” Graham based his script on political editor/TV producer Rob Burley’s book, Why is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me?: Searching for the Truth on Political TV, which dedicated two chapters to how the Thatcher interview came together and the aftermath. However, for those who want the unvarnished version straight from the broadcast, YouTube has it in full for anyone with an hour to spare.
As for the TV series, the first images of Walter as Thatcher suggest her portrayal will at least begin as a very self-satisfied take. The phrase that comes to mind is “Butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.”
Harriet Walter as Margaret Thatcher in 'Brian and Margaret'
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Here's the series synopsis:
1989. When Brian and Margaret came together for their last-ever TV interview, little did they know they were about to embark on one of the most famous political exchanges of all time. The 45-minute showdown became a national talking point and set in train a series of events that ended with Margaret’s resignation. Afterward, they never spoke again…
Steve Coogan as Brian Walden in 'Brian and Margaret'
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Walter and Coogan are joined by a stellar supporting cast, including Emma Sidi (Starstruck) as Sue Richardson, Ross Armstrong (Mr. Selfridge) as John Wakefield, and Gurjeet Singh (Mrs. Sidhu Investigates) as Vinay Ahmed.
In a statement released when her casting was announced, Walter said, “I have to travel a great distance to reach Maggie Thatcher, but with James’s brilliant script, Stephen Frears to guide me, and Steve Coogan to accompany me, I have the dream team to help me achieve it.”
Emma Sidi as Sue Richardson, Ross Armstrong as John Wakefield, Steve Coogan as Brian Walden and Gurjeet Singh as Vinay Ahmed in 'Brian and Margaret'
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Director Stephen Frears (A Very English Scandal) helmed both installments of Brian & Margaret from Graham’s script, with Dan Winch producing. The series is executive produced by Sarah Monteith, Delyth Scudamore, and Rupert Majendie, alongside Baby Cow Productions, Coogan’s production company.
Brian and Margaret does not yet have a release date on Channel 4, but it is expected to be out in early 2025. No American distributor has been announced as yet, but something this high-profile will cross the pond; it’s just a matter of where.
