Steve Coogan has stoked fears that a new Margaret Thatcher drama will be a woke whitewash after admitting editing a scene sympathetic to Britain's first female prime minister.
A new two-part drama, written by James Graham, about Margaret Thatcher's 1989 interview with Brian Walden, will air on Channel 4 on January 29.
Coogan, 59, who plays the former Labor MP turned presenter of London Weekend Television, said he had “tremendous antipathy” towards the former prime minister, who described himself as “very anti-Thatcher”.
He told the Radio Times: 'The only thing I was concerned about in this drama was being too sympathetic about her legacy.'
The actor even objected to a scene written by Sherwood writer Mr Graham, 42, for being 'too nice' to the Iron Lady and said she would now be diagnosed with a 'disorder'.
Mr Coogan added: 'In fact we left something out in the edit because I thought it was a bit too nice and we wanted to remind people that there was damage… She had vision and zeal but she lacked empathy . Now she would probably have some sort of disorder.”
Steve Coogan, 59, has sparked fears that a new Margaret Thatcher drama will be a woke whitewash after admitting editing a scene sympathetic to Britain's first female prime minister (pictured in May 2024)
A new two-part drama, written by James Graham, about Margaret Thatcher's 1989 interview with Brian Walden, airs on January 29 on Channel 4 (pictured with Harriet Walter as Margaret Thatcher)
Playing opposite the Alan Partridge actor as Margaret Thatcher is Dame Harriet Walter, who met Mr Coogan at Extinction Rebellion events.
Dame Harriet, who at 74 is more than a decade older than Mrs Thatcher during the 1989 confrontation, said she only took on the role because of the team involved. She said: 'I thought, 'I wish it was about someone else.'
The Succession actress said the former Conservative Prime Minister 'blinked his eyes'.
She added, “I didn't 'warm up' to her. She remains undisputed as a role model for female politicians in this country and that is a shame, because I don't think she is such a good role model.'
The Sense and Sensibility star, who has never met the former Prime Minister, said she thinks Mrs Thatcher would have 'loathed' her if they had met.
She said: “Growing up I would go to demonstrations and picket lines. Plus, I come from a fairly privileged background. We would have had zero to talk about. Maybe clothes, I think.'
Highly critical comments about Mrs Thatcher from the drama's leading stars have raised concerns about bias.
Donal Blaney, the founder of the Margaret Thatcher Centre, said: 'If they have cut scenes that show Margaret Thatcher in a particularly favorable light, as Mr Coogan has admitted, then this calls into question the whole legitimacy of this drama.'
Mr Coogan, who plays the former Labor MP turned presenter of London Weekend Television, said he had 'huge antipathy' towards the former prime minister and described himself as 'very anti-Thatcher' (pictured in October 2019)
'We even left something out in the editing because I thought it was a bit too friendly and we wanted to remind people that there was damage. She had vision and zeal, but she lacked empathy,” Steve explained of Thatcher's portrayal
Playing opposite the Alan Partridge actor as Margaret Thatcher is Dame Harriet Walter, who met Mr Coogan at Extinction Rebellion events
'I didn't 'warm up' to her. She remains undisputed as a role model for female politicians in this country and that is a shame, because I don't think she is a very good role model,” said the actress.
'Margaret Thatcher will be remembered long after Steve Coogan. I've always been taught to be skeptical of comedians who think they can be serious actors.
“Coogan is very funny when he plays Alan Partridge – which is basically himself – but he doesn't have any other memorable performances that come to mind.”
Harriet took fans back in time as she perfected the former British Prime Minister's look.
For her character, she swapped her usual brunette locks with a classic gold perm and wore a striking blue suit with a scalloped design around the collar.
Brian and Margaret, which airs on January 30, is written by RTS prize winner Jamers Graham, known for Sherwood, Quiz, Brexit: The Uncivil War.
It is based on the book Why is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me?: Searching for the Truth on Political TV by political editor and TV producer Rob Burley.
The two-part drama was directed by Academy Award-nominated and BAFTA-winning Stephen Frears, known for A Very English Scandal and Florence Foster Jenkins, Philomena.
Steve, who previously starred in The Reckoning, looked worlds away from his usual youthful, trendy self and embodied the wise and feared inquisitor that is Brian.
Elsewhere, Harriet took fans back in time as she perfected the former British Prime Minister's look
In 1989, Brian and Margaret reunited for their last ever TV interview.
Little did they know they were about to engage in one of the most famous political exchanges of all time.
The 45-minute confrontation became a national talking point and set in motion a chain of events that ended with Margaret's resignation.
After that they never spoke again.
Brian and Margaret will be released in two 60-minute episodes.
TV presenter Brian died in 2019 at the age of 86 from complications of pulmonary emphysema.
The veteran broadcaster, who started his career as a Labor politician, died at home in St Peter Port, Guernsey.
Brian was scouted by ITV, where he worked on Weekend World, among other things.
It was based on the book Why is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me?: Searching for the Truth on Political TV by political editor and TV producer Rob Burley
TV presenter Brian died in 2019 at the age of 86 from complications of pulmonary emphysema. He was scouted by ITV, where he worked on Weekend World, among other things
He was best known for his hard-hitting interviews with high-profile politicians and was considered Margaret Thatcher's 'favourite' interviewer (pictured together in 1977).
Read the full interview in this week's Radio Times magazine
He was best known for his hard-hitting interviews with high-profile politicians and was considered Margaret Thatcher's 'favourite' interviewer.
During a famous row when her own Conservative cabinet turned against her in 1989, Brian asked Margaret if she was 'off her wagon'.
He asked her, “You come across as someone who one of your backstabbers said is a little off her wagon, authoritarian, overbearing, and refuses to listen to anyone else – why?
“Why can't you publicly project what you just said as your private character?”
She replied, “Brian, if anyone comes across as dominant in this interview, it's you.”
