Channel 4's 'Brian and Maggie' Recreates Thatcher's Pivotal 1989 TV Interview

The two-part drama examines the final televised conversation between Margaret Thatcher and Brian Walden, exploring their complex relationship and its political aftermath.

Brian and Maggie, written by James Graham and directed by Stephen Frears, premieres on Channel 4 on January 29, 2025, at 9pm.
Steve Coogan stars as journalist-turned-broadcaster Brian Walden, with Harriet Walter portraying Margaret Thatcher, the UK’s first female prime minister.
The drama revisits Thatcher's 1989 interview with Walden, which occurred during a critical period of her premiership following Nigel Lawson’s resignation as chancellor.
The interview, widely regarded as one of the greatest in political history, exposed vulnerabilities in Thatcher’s leadership and contributed to her eventual resignation in 1990.
Brian and Maggie highlights the decline of long-form political interviews, contrasting them with today’s shorter, less substantive formats.