Filming gets underway this week (w/c 29 July) on Baby Cow Productions’ new drama, Brian and Margaret, starring Steve Coogan and Harriet Walter.

Directed by Stephen Frears from a script penned by James Graham, the 2 x 60’ series is based on the book “Why is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me: Searching for the Truth on Political TV” by political editor Rob Burley. At the time of the greenlight announcement, Graham stated: “I’m beyond excited to be working with this incredible world-class team on a story brought to us by Rob Burley.”

Starring Steve Coogan and Harriet Walter, Brian and Margaret looks at the final television interview of then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (Walter) by journalist Brian Walden (Coogan), in 1989. The infamous encounter sparked national discussion and ultimately led to a sequence of events culminating in Thatcher’s resignation.

When the drama was confirmed, Coogan remarked: “It’s great to be telling a story from the era of the sorely missed forensic interview – two giants of their time locking horns to determine the future of Britain. To act opposite Harriet Walter with a script by James Graham directed by Stephen Frears is a challenge of the very best kind.”

Walter echoed Coogan’s sentiments: “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.”

Brian and Margaret has been commissioned for Channel 4 by Ollie Madden, director of Film 4, and head of Channel 4 Drama, alongside Ben Wadey, drama commissioning executive. The executive producing team includes Sarah Monteith, Delyth Scudamore, and Rupert Majendie, with Dan Winch as the producer.