Brian and Maggie

Having lived through these events and was at the time a fan of the political interviewer Brian Walden I was interested to see for myself Channel 4s drama. Directed by Stephen Frears with a screenplay by James Graham, the odd interest in the demise of Thatcher continues.

Walden didn't bring down Margaret Thatcher, the responsibility for that lies wholly with herself. He did however, hammer in one of the many nails into her coffin. The two part series is made all the more tasty because they had been friends and this is developed by Frears to give context to the events that led to the famous, fateful TV interview.

Steve Coogan and Harriet Walter play the leads and Coogan struggles with Walden's persona, looks and accent. At times he simply comes across as... Steve Coogan. There is little about Walden's time as a Labour MP despite the fact that early in his career he was seen as a potential cabinet minister or even leader. As the 1970s progressed he turned into a maverick before leaving to work as a TV interviewer.

Harriet Walter is the latest amongst several actresses to play Thatcher. Despite being older than the former Prime Minister was in1989 her performance might just be the finest so far. She gets the two big issues for all actresses playing the part right-that of Thatcher's public and private persona. This is the key to trying to understanding Margaret Thatcher. Most biographies and accounts point to this personality split. Was the Iron-Lady really a kitten when she was off-duty?

Well, Frears and Graham don't exactly put her into that box, but in the two part series best scene she invites Walden for a cosey drink in her private rooms in Downing Street. We see a very different Margaret, shoes off, lounging on a couch drinking whisky with big eyes for her favourite TV man across the coffee table. She and Walden get close, at least as friends as they build a kind of blood-brothers pact between each other.

Was this merely a professional relationship of politician and journalist, or was there something more? As time passes during Thatcher's tenure the relationship pans out as purely professional as we move towards 1989. Her fall was slow in coming, but inevitable. The 'interview' was well anticipated, as political interviews were at that time, Walden being the master interviewer up against the usually superb Thatcher. Walden goes straight for the jugular and doesn't let his prey off the ropes. I remember the shock this caused at the time; was this really Margaret Thatcher? She fights back but the fatal wound had been inflicted.

As they say, the rest is history. Perhaps the final word comes from the Prime Minister as she looks into the mirror, realising that the game was up...'Betrayal.'

The programme tries to portray Brian Walden putting Margaret Thatcher "on the ropes". I've just watched the actual interview and watched her reactions to his questions closely and at no time does she seem rattled or uncomfortable with them. On the contrary she dealt with them with patience and sang froid that Starmer can only dream of. She was the best PM since Churchill and the programme only reminded me of what this country used to be. Her visions and firmness of leadership have been sadly lacking of late. Watch the drama then watch the original interview and see the REAL Margaret Thatcher..

Offers a brilliant insight into point at which Thatcher's stony facade began to crumble - Harriet Walter's turn is a brilliant piece of acting, and Coogan is incredibly arresting also. While far from sympathetic, this is a more nuanced Thatcher, certainly calculated and cunning, but also vulnerable and dare I say, feminine. Indeed this femininity was partially used against her at her downfall. The misogyny veiled as good traditional (or 'moral') values that she championed with such vehemence was ultimately used against her in the later years: this is all subtly hinted at here. Another gem in the dramatisational canon of the Thatcherite years.

Harriet Walter doesn't try to mimic Thatcher's accent very closely, which leads to a more natural, less strangulated performance than those of Meryl Streep and Gillian Anderson. She looks too old, but is otherwise fairly convincing. As for Steve Coogan, I agree with another reviewer who says he often just seems to be playing himself. This is sadly true. Despite slight touches of the voice and diction, he doesn't capture Walden's manner as I remember it (and as we see it in those few seconds at the end.) Also I'd have liked more about the 1989 situation and less of the back story that took up episode 1.

The program is excellent, but there were more nuances in reality. There were many radical changes under Margaret Thatcher, but by the third term there was already hubris that had caused rumblings, especially over the "poll tax". The real interview was not an obvious defeat, and much longer. The programmes apparent claim that the interview was the start of Margaret Thatcher's downfall is therefore misleading. Plots were already happening because of Lawson's departure and later because of Howe's speech. The epilogue with Margaret Thatcher holding forth after her resignation, looked like a eulogy for her policies, that are now the political norm. Steve Coogan's ability to slip into an character is remarkable. Harriet Walter looked more like Nancy Reagan, but had the right voice and mannerisms. I would say it is a successful, thought-provoking programme.