Brian and Maggie viewers laid into Steve Coogan just minutes into watching the new Channel 4 drama.

The first instalment of the two-part series hit our screens on Wednesday, and will be followed by the second on Thursday 30 January. 

Brian and Maggie follows the events leading up to former Prime Minister Margate Thatcher and journalist Steve Coogan’s last ever interview which took place 35 years ago. 

The 1989 chat marked the end of their friendship. 

Actor Steve Coogan, 59, plays Brian Walden, while actress Harriet Walter, 74, has taken on the role of Margaret. 

Many have already watched the drama and took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to point the same thing out – that they don’t think that Steve sounds anything like the man he is portraying. 

Brian and Maggie fans have all said the same thing about actor Steve Coogan just minutes into Channel 4 Thatcher drama

Steve Coogan has taken on the role of Brian Walden in the two-part series 

One pointed out: ‘Coogan sounds more like Roy Hodgson. #brianandmaggie.’

A second chimed in: ‘Sounds like Steve Coogan has ate a wasp #brianandmaggie.’

‘I remember Brian Walden well and thought he was brilliant, but I feel Steve Coogan is a bit distracting and, sadly, typecast to play him. It feels like an extended impersonation,’ a third wrote. 

A fourth echoed: ‘No resemblance whatsoever and the voice is all wrong.’ 

Meanwhile others took to the social media platform to share how much they enjoyed the first episode.

One said: ‘Just watched Ep 1 of #brianandmaggie and wow, I wasn’t expecting to watch it and got totally sucked in.. Dame Walter is staggeringly good as always, Steve was well.. Steve (amazing!). Great show, thanks! Awards a plenty for sure.’ 

Another tweeted: ‘#BrianAndMaggie is such great drama. Two tour de force performances battling each other – it is so theatrical, layered and beautifully written and directed. @mrjamesgraham has done it again.’ 

A third added: ‘This is a really good, well written drama to watch. Harriet and Steve have great on screen chemistry. Have never watched the real interview but I think that they’ve done the BTS stuff very well here.’ 

While a fourth said: ‘Just watched#BrianAndMaggie. It’s superb—every bit as good as I hoped it would be.’

Viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts on the drama

Read More Channel 4’s drama Brian and Maggie concludes: A time when politicians faced real TV grillings

Despite some viewers’ critiques, Steve previously admitted that he already felt ‘familiar’ with the character he was taking on.

The actor played the broadcaster on satirical TV show Spitting Image. 

Steve said: ‘I was very familiar with Brian Walden and in fact I did his voice on Spitting Image more than thirty years ago when I started out in the business.’

This meant that he already felt connected to Brian in a way.  

Steve added: ‘I already felt that I knew who he was, and I found I had a kind of empathy with Brian Walden – and to some extent with Margaret Thatcher.’

A first look at the new show was dropped back in October 2024.

Then earlier this week more striking pictures dropped ahead of Wednesday’s release.

Watch the next episode of Brian and Maggie on Thursday 30 January on Channel 4 at 9pm.