EXCLUSIVE: Will this girl be for turning?
Succession star Harriet Walter is taking up Maggie Thatcher in splashy Channel 4 drama sequence Brian and Margaret, which is being directed by Stephen Frears, penned by James Graham and co-starring Steve Coogan. Coogan’s BBC Studios-backed Child Cow is producing.
Unveiled with three weeks till the final election, the two-parter is a dramatization of the story behind and event of Thatcher’s final TV interview, the massively damaging ITV grilling by her previous pal Brian Walden (Coogan), which some view as the ultimate nail in her prime ministerial coffin.
The pair have been cosy within the run as much as the interview and had confronted one another earlier than on the small display however Walden – who was probably the most feared political interviewers of his day – struck a number of blows significantly with a line of questioning concerning the latest resignation of Thatcher’s chancellor, Nigel Lawson. Thatcher stood down a 12 months after the 1989 interview and by no means spoke to Walden once more. The venture was revealed in its infancy to Deadline a 12 months in the past by Child Cow MD Sarah Monteith, who described a Thatcher sequence in growth that may “say one thing concerning the nature of debate in our nation.” You may watch the Thatcher-Walden interview in full on the backside of the web page.
Thatcher being interviewed by Walden at Southbank Studios, London. Picture: PA Photos by way of Getty Photos.
The sequence will “ask whether or not the gradual loss of life of full-length political TV interviews places fashionable democracy in danger,” in response to Channel 4. In an identical vein to Netflix’s Scoop concerning the infamous Prince Andrew interview, it’s primarily based on two chapters from a guide – Why Is This Mendacity Bastard Mendacity to Me by ex-BBC producer Rob Burley. It comes with political interviews within the highlight as present PM Rishi Sunak and Labour chief Keir Starmer face grillings from modern-day Walden aspirants such because the BBC’s Nick Robinson and Sky’s Beth Rigby.
Walter was Emmy nominated for her function as Logan Roy’s ex-wife Woman Caroline Collingwood in HBO smash Succession, whereas she has additionally starred in Killing Eve, Silo and The Crown, and is a doyen of the West Finish stage.
She takes on a task performed by lots down the years. Gillian Anderson gained an Emmy for her portrayal in The Crown and Meryl Streep scooped an Oscar 12 years in the past for The Iron Woman. Others to have portrayed one among Britain’s longest-serving PMs embody Lesley Manville in Frears’ The Queen, Andrea Riseborough, and Lindsay Duncan. Lesley-Anne Down can quickly be seen taking part in Thatcher in Sean McNamara’s upcoming Reagan biopic.
Along with her left-wing political leanings, Walter joked that she “has to journey an ideal distance to succeed in Maggie Thatcher.” “However with James’s sensible script, Stephen Frears to information me and Steve Coogan to accompany me I’ve the dream crew to assist me obtain it,” she added.
Coogan stated: “It’s nice to be telling a narrative from the period of the sorely missed forensic interview – two giants of their time locking horns to find out the way forward for Britain. To behave reverse Harriet Walter with a script by James Graham directed by Stephen Frears is a problem of the easiest type.”
Sherwood creator Graham, who was unveiled yesterday because the Edinburgh TV Competition 2024 MacTaggart lecturer, stated the present will “carry to life the intimate and sophisticated relationship” between Walden and Thatcher.
Graham has had an iron grip on the UK’s political TV drama and theater scene of late, whereas two-time Oscar nominee Frears has helmed many a political venture down the years.
Brian and Margaret is the primary greenlight for newly-appointed Director of Film4 and Head of Channel 4 Drama Ollie Madden, who took over the mixed function earlier this 12 months. Madden commissioned with Ben Wadey. EPs are Monteith, Delyth Scudamore and Rupert Majendie, whereas Dan Winch is producer. BBC Studios is promoting internationally.
Walter is repped by Elizabeth Fieldhouse and Christian Hodell at Hamilton Hodell. Coogan is repped by Impartial Expertise and CAA. Additional casting will likely be unveiled sooner or later.
