Steve Coogan has sparked fears that a new Margaret Thatcher drama will be a woke whitewash after he admitted editing out a scene that was 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.

Mr Coogan, 59, who plays the former Labour MP turned London Weekend Television host, said that he had ‘huge antipathy’ for the former PM describing himself as ‘very anti-Thatcher’.

He told the Radio Times: ‘The one thing that I was worried about in this drama was being too compᴀssionate because of her legacy.’

The actor even took exception to a scene written by Sherwood writer Mr Graham, 42, for being ‘too kind’ to the Iron Lady and said that she would now be diagnosed with a ‘disorder’.

Mr Coogan added: ‘In fact, in the edit we cut something because I thought it was a bit too kind and we wanted to remind people that there was this damage… She had vision and zeal, but she lacked empathy. Now, she’d probably be diagnosed with some sort of disorder.’

Steve Coogan, 59, has sparked fears that a new Margaret Thatcher drama will be a woke whitewash after he admitted editing out a scene that was 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 will air on Channel 4 on January 29 (pictured with Harriet Walter as Margaret Thatcher)

Starring opposite the Alan Partridge actor as Margaret Thatcher is Dame Harriet Walter, who Mr Coogan met at Extinction Rebellion events.

Dame Harriet, who at 74 is over a decade older than Mrs Thatcher was during the 1989 showdown, said she only took the role because of the team involved. She said: ‘I thought, “I just wish it was about somebody else.”’

The Succession actress said the former Conservative prime minister was ‘blinkered’.

She added: ‘I didn’t ‘warm’ to her. She remains unchallenged as a role model for female politicians in this country and that’s regrettable, because I don’t think it’s a very nice role model.’

The Sense and Sensibility star, who never met the former prime minister, said she thinks Mrs Thatcher would have ‘detested’ her if they had met.

She said: ‘In my youth, I went on demos and picket lines. Plus, my coming from a fairly privileged background. We would have had zero to talk about. Maybe clothes, I suppose.’

The highly-critical comments about Mrs Thatcher from the drama’s leading stars has caused concern about bias.

Donal Blaney, the founder of the Margaret Thatcher Centre, said: ‘If they have cut out scenes which paint Margaret Thatcher in any sort of favourable light, as Mr Coogan has admitted, then it calls into question the whole legitimacy of this drama.’

Mr Coogan who plays the former Labour MP turned London Weekend Television host, said that he had ‘huge antipathy’ for the former PM describing himself as ‘very anti-Thatcher’ (pictured in October 2019)

‘In fact, in the edit we cut something because I thought it was a bit too kind and we wanted to remind people that there was this damage. She had vision and zeal, but she lacked empathy,’ Steve explained about Thatcher’s portrayal 

Starring opposite the Alan Partridge actor as Margaret Thatcher is Dame Harriet Walter, who Mr Coogan met at Extinction Rebellion events

‘I didn’t ‘warm’ to her. She remains unchallenged as a role model for female politicians in this country and that’s regrettable, because I don’t think it’s a very nice role model,’ the actress said

Read More First look at Harriet Walter and Steve Coogan as they transform into Margaret Thatcher and Brian Walden for new Channel 4 drama about fiery TV clash that lead to Iron Lady’s resignation

‘Margaret Thatcher will be remembered long after Steve Coogan. I was always taught to be sceptical about comedians who think they can be serious actors. 

‘Coogan is very funny when playing Alan Partridge – which is basically himself – but has no other memorable performances that spring to mind.’

Harriet took fans back in time as she perfected the look of the former UK Prime Minister.

For her character, she swapped out her usual brunette tresses with a classic golden perm and wore a striking blue suit with a scallop design around the collar.

Brian and Margaret, which will air on 30 January, was written by RTS award-winner Jamers Graham, known for Sherwood, Quiz, Brexit: The Uncivil War.

It’s based on political editor and TV producer Rob Burley’s book Why is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me?: Searching for the Truth on Political TV.

The two-part drama was directed by Academy Award nominee 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 much-feared inquisitor that is Brian

Elsewhere, Harriet took fans back in time as she perfected the look of the former UK Prime Minister

In 1989 Brian and Margaret came together for their last ever TV interview.

Little did they know they were about to embark on one of the most famous political exchanges of all time.

The 45-minute showdown became a national talking point and set in train a series of events that ended with Margaret’s resignation.

Afterwards, 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 following complications from emphysema.

The veteran broadcaster, who started his career as a Labour politician, died at home in St Peter Port, Guernsey.

Brian was scouted by ITV, where he worked on Weekend World among other programmes.

It was based on political editor and TV producer Rob Burley’s book Why is This Lying Bastard Lying to Me?: Searching for the Truth on Political TV

TV presenter Brian died in 2019 at the age of 86 following complications from emphysema. He was scouted by ITV, where he worked on Weekend World among other programmes

He was best known for his tenacious interviews with high-profile politicians and was considered Margaret Thatcher’s ‘favourite’ interviewer (pictured together in 1977)

He was best known for his tenacious interviews with high-profile politicians and was considered Margaret Thatcher’s ‘favourite’ interviewer.

During one famous grilling when her own Conservative cabinet were turning against her in 1989, Brian asked Margaret whether she was ‘off her trolley’.

He asked her: ‘You come over as being someone who one of your backbenchers said is slightly off her trolley, authoritarian, domineering, refusing to listen to anybody else – why? 

‘Why cannot you publicly project what you have just told me is your private character?’

She replied: ‘Brian, if anyone’s coming over as domineering in this interview, it’s you.’